In honor of April and Autism awareness month, I wanted to share something I feel is important. As a special needs mom of three, two of my children are autistic. Over twenty-four years, I've witnessed a multitude of experiences, encompassing both positive and negative. I initially had little idea where to find help outside my child's therapists and doctors. Because of this I believe in the importance of giving back, educating, and sharing resources, so you don’t have to feel alone and struggle like I did. Support is needed to raise a typical child, while a team or tribe is sometimes needed for children with special needs.
I learned the importance of early intervention which is testing and diagnosis of a child when they are young so therapy can be applied as soon as possible, and I am a passionate advocate for it. Early intervention significantly improves a child's chances of overcoming challenges and achieving success. Interventions in social, life, and organizational skills benefit all children. Tools for better mental/emotional self-regulation are necessary for all children. Teaching them these skills will not only help them survive and stay healthy but also enrich their lives whether they are neurotypical or neurodivergent.
This needs to start at home and be implemented in all our schools. According to the CDC, one in thirty-six children receives an autism diagnosis by age eight. It's mainly boys. Early detection of autism is not always apparent in girls. Sometimes, before receiving an autism diagnosis, eating disorders, anxiety, and/or depression may mask the condition. There is a possibility that these numbers will continue to increase. This implies a future with a greater number of autistic adults. We want to ensure they receive all necessary help and services throughout their childhood.
This information highlights the importance of early diagnosis for children. Their ability to overcome challenges is directly proportional to the help they receive. Some examples are language delay or nonverbal communication, lack of social skills and social cues, mental and emotional regulation challenges, communication difficulties, impulse control problems, and establishing connections with others and the world. In a person's life, these skills are critically important.
My parenting journey has been filled with two of my children being diagnosed early in their life and overcoming things I was not sure they would. Both are now fully verbal and thriving. Resilience is attainable in children and adults, particularly with proper tools and support. I have firsthand experience with the transformative power of tools, help, and therapies for children and their families; they can truly work miracles. This requires being open to getting your child diagnosed if needed. No matter what a child is faced with they need your love and support.
In addition to being a trainer for Autism Tennessee, I'm an ambassador advocate. Sharing my story and my children's story is important to me, hoping to change the current narrative. With rising numbers, I've learned much over the years, and we must rise to the challenge of helping as many people as possible. For instance, a parent without basic life skills faces the question: how will they raise their child? Possibly undiagnosed, they may also lack the basic instincts to care for a child. In what ways can we address this disparity and provide support for such situations? Interventions when they were young would have made a huge difference and given them skills that may not be instinctual for them. So many different scenarios and situations exist that the list is endless.
Many organizations, groups, individuals, and medical professionals are trained to provide skill-building and interventions. Our support and awareness are needed by them. And more is needed. Because of the rise in diagnoses among children and adults, there's a current shortage of occupational therapists and other resources. Now more than ever we need to come together and help one another. It does not matter the age of someone who may have challenges, it is still important to help them.
I am concerned by some of the things I have seen on my journey, and I know we can do better and bridge the gap between an individual struggling and ensuring they get the help they may need. Below is a love letter of gratitude and encouragement to everyone involved in helping those with needs and together we can assist with making our future and those with needs more successful and empowered.
Early intervention, testing, diagnosis, and therapies will ensure if needed by a child to help empower them at home, school, and for life.
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Teachers, OT, PT, Speech, and ABA Therapists, Disability Organizations, Nurses for Newborns, Schools, Specialty Schools, EMS Workers, Mental Health Workers, and anyone working with individuals that may require your help.
For all you do and have done, we thank you. We know your demanding job sometimes leaves you questioning its impact. We want to assure you that your time spent helping others, whether in big ways or small, is valuable and makes a difference.
The child needing speech, swallowing, or sensory processing help to survive and thrive needs you. The child needing to learn to walk needs you. The person that requires help learning social emotional skills and how to communicate with others better needs you. You are needed by the teenager who lacks the ability to read social cues, potentially compromising their safety. The autistic mother who lacks the ability to understand her baby's needs requires your assistance. The young adult desiring a job and possibly pursuing higher education, but lacking direction relies on you, while families caring for individuals with special needs depend on your support.
We understand you need support, too. Your intervention—providing occupational, speech, swallowing, physical, and mental health therapies to my young children—meant the difference between my children struggling and overcoming life's challenges; you changed our lives. I can never adequately express my thanks.
May you be blessed in all your efforts to help others, and may society improve its support for early intervention and other necessary services for children, teens, young adults, and adults.
Parents remember all your love and efforts make the difference in your child living an empowered life. You matter, your child matters.
We can do this together.
With love Mary Elizabeth Jackson
Mary Elizabeth Jackson is passionate about advocacy, education, and creativity. As an award-winning author and certified Special Needs and Disability advocate and ambassador advocate and trainer with Autism Tn Mary leverages her personal experience as a mother of three, including two on the spectrum, to empower and support families and individuals facing similar challenges. With a diverse skill set that includes podcasting, hosting a syndicated radio show on Brushwood Media, speaking, educating, ghostwriting, training, consulting, and songwriting, Mary brings a unique perspective to every project. As the owner of E & L Publishing and the manager of Sisters J Music, Mary is dedicated to using her talents to promote positive change and amplify underrepresented voices. Connect with me here
