Benefits Of Workshops For Parents Of Children With Autism

More than 200 years ago, the first case of children with autism was described. Prefect (1770) described the case of an eleven-year-old boy with a disorder with prolonged confusional states and delusions that sometimes alternated with periods of lethargy and anxiety.

At that time, the most diverse explanations began to be presented, but currently there are several scientific researches that indicate that the origin of autism is in the alteration of several genes.

However, as highlighted, different theories have been described throughout history. One of the most influential is the theory of mind, formulated in 1985 by Simon Baron-Cohen, Alan Leslie and Uta Frith. In their studies on the development of social understanding in young children, they hypothesized that  people with autism  do not have a theory of mind,  do not have the ability to attribute independent mental states to themselves and others in order to predict and explain the behaviors.

When a child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, the family begins an unexpected journey. The future for them becomes more uncertain. Filtering and digesting all the information and options can be devastating.

There will be many professionals, complex terminology and a vast amount of information and opinions from people who will be part of your life. Various emotions such as fear, sadness, denial, guilt, anger and sadness will seem to flood you.

Parents of children with autism have to face two new developments, that of the new child and that of a developmental disorder that is probably beyond their understanding. This entails a physical and psychological strain on the parents. The behaviors of these children often disorient families. The lack of response, the unpredictable behavior and the rejection of physical contact are some of the ones that most impact the family.

That’s why  workshops for parents of children with autism are very beneficial, because they help them understand the disease and know how to approach it, providing tools for educating children.

How to deal with the education of a child in a world that does not understand

Autism is a syndrome that compromises the quality of life of sufferers and their families, hindering social relationships and learning, making the future uncertain in terms of the patient’s independence, self-care and productive life.

Parents of children with autism are forced to change several aspects of their lives  in relation to the high demand for care by these children, hindering their full personal, family and professional development, putting the family’s physical and mental health at risk.

Having in your care a person with multiple limitations, such as language and social interaction, prevents parents from having at their disposal the time and money necessary to meet their own needs. The lives of parents of children with autism revolve around them, causing a noticeable decrease in their quality of life.

Emotional education for parents of children with autism

In the world we live in, emotions are highly relevant, both on a personal level and on the level of interaction with the environment. Emotional education is a necessary and very beneficial resource. Although every person with autism spectrum disorder is unique and different, there are common traits in most cases, such as fear of change, inability to use meaningful language, restricted interests, stereotypy, distorted sensitivity, and difficulties to empathize.

These common traits are those that are assessed, taught, and trained in workshops for parents of children with autism. After your child’s first diagnosis, parents can be in shock. They may be confused for a while, as if they feel paralyzed. Then comes denial; they don’t want to accept reality.

Sometimes they may look for other diagnoses and tend to cling to the most favorable ones, even if they are wrong. Then comes the beginning of acceptance and this can trigger depression, moments of great despair and sadness. At the end comes the reality phase, in which all of the above are overcome and the parents resort to methods to help their child. They usually look for the most personalized and beneficial treatment for them. The duration of each of the phases can vary greatly from one family to another.

Therefore, access to workshops from different associations for parents of children with autism is considered very important. The benefits are not just for parents, but also for children. The results of several studies confirm an improvement in the satisfaction and quality of life of families, which improves the understanding of the emotions of all its members.