May 4, 2016 | By: Beth Coke
Navigate Life Texas works to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the content on this site. This blog has been updated since its first publication to reflect changes with other organizations, links to other sites and other information. The substance of the article and the writer’s story have not been altered.
When you need someone to listen while you travel down the long road of living with autism, the Autism Society of Central Texas is there for you.
For me, facing the fact that my son was diagnosed with autism was very difficult. I lived in denial for a long time, maybe too long. I already had a child with cerebral palsy and I could not quite accept that I had even more to deal with.
Autism made no sense to me. With my daughter's cerebral palsy, it made sense. She had a stroke that damaged her brain and caused various issues. I understood that. My son was fine. He was a great baby. What caused this? There was not a clear path telling me to “o this therapy, take this medicine and we will do the best we can.” There was no telling what would set him off from day to day, and I simply did not want to be a parent of a child with autism.
In this time of total confusion, resources like the Autism Society were there to let me know I wasn't alone, other parents felt the same way and it was okay. The Autism Society of Central Texas showed me that there were doctors studying autism, that hope wasn’t lost, that things looked bleak at that moment but there was light ahead. In those moments of disbelief when I wanted to pull the covers over my head, they were the light that led me out of the darkness.
Offering many support groups with a large variety of times and venues, the Autism Society has something to meet your needs. It’s a safe place to talk about the day-to-day struggles of living with autism. Speaking with parents who have been where you are is an invaluable resource. Supporting other parents as they begin their journey can be healing.
The Autism Society of Central Texas covers a 24-county service area. With autism rates on the rise, the Autism Society takes hundreds of phone calls and questions dealing with everything from diagnosis to the latest treatments.
As the nation's leading grassroots autism organization, the Autism Society is the place parents and families can turn to. The Society spreads public awareness about the day-to-day issues people on the spectrum are facing, and they help advocate for appropriate services for individuals with autism throughout their lives. They provide the latest information about treatment, education, research and advocacy. The Autism Society offers many support groups for friends and family.
We all need help and someone to listen to us from time to time. The life of supporting someone living with autism is a hard one. It is often confusing and frustrating. It helps to have someone that understands. The Autism Society is here for us.
Please check out the Autism Society of Central Texas website.
The Autism Society of Central Texas is located at 300 E Highland Mall Blvd, Austin, Texas, 78752, and can be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 512-479-4199, Extension 1.
To find additional parent groups or services, use the Find Groups, Services, and Events page.