Sometimes, I come across articles or blog posts about the ABCs of a particular topic. The other day, I read a post about the ABCs of minimalism. It made me think about my journey through autism and ADHD with my son J. How would I write the ABCs of autism and ADHD? Here is my ABC list. There are so many words and phrases that could be attributed to each letter of the alphabet related to autism and ADHD. However, these are the ones that came prominently to mind for me.
ABCs for Autism and ADHD
A is for autism and ADHD
B is for the behavior therapists who help our children with life’s challenges
C is for communication and helping our children learn to express themselves and interact with others effectively
D is dealing with other people’s judgements – you are a good parent and know your child best so don’t make anyone else doubt yourself
E is for executive function skills that many of our children struggle with but can improve with help
F is for finances and learning how to make each dollar count and overcome the financial burden of autism
G is for gluten-free diets that can help some children who have gastrointestinal sensitivities
H is for help and support from others along this journey
I is for IEP (individualized education plan) to help your child obtain the school services they need
J is for jumping and other activities that help provide sensory input for our children
K is for the kind people who help us through this autism and ADHD journey
L is for love that we show our children every day and the laughter that many of our children bring to our lives
M is for music and the way it helps our children better understand emotions and even provides therapy to our kids
N is for never quitting even when as a parent you are exhausted and feel like you can’t make it through another day
O is for occupational therapists who help our children improve their gross and fine motor skills, and address sensory issues
P is for parents who love and sacrifice for their children to ensure they receive the care and services they need
Q is for questions that we constantly have about our children and autism and ADHD
R is for respite when we need a break from our caregiving duties
S is for the special education teams at our children’s schools who work hard to ensure our children are receiving the education they need and have a right to receive
T is for transition into adulthood after high school and helping our children live the best lives they are capable of leading
U is for understanding emotions to help our children learn to do so and how to regulate their own
V is for video games that our children love to play
W is for waivers through our States’ Medicaid programs for additional care and services for our children
X is for X chromosome, which may be linked to the genetic hereditary of autism
Y is for young adults with autism who need additional support from us as they age out of services and need to find their way through adulting
Z is for zero regrets in giving your love, time and resources to help your child in every way possible
Which letters stand out to you and what would your ABCs of autism and ADHD look like? Leave a comment below so that we can share and encourage each other along this journey!
