The difficulty in finding inclusive social activities is also a horror story for many moms. They want their autistic children to have a normal social life, but most community events or playgroups are not adapted for children with autism. So the mom has to constantly search for suitable places and activities, often feeling isolated in the process.
Many moms face the horror of having no support network. Their families may not understand the needs of the autistic child, leaving the mom to do everything on her own, from taking care of daily needs to handling all the medical and therapy appointments.
One horror story could be dealing with the lack of understanding from schools. For example, an Autism Warrior Mom might face a school that refuses to provide the necessary accommodations for her autistic child. They might not understand the importance of a sensory - friendly environment or individualized education plans, leaving the child to struggle in a mainstream setting without proper support.
One horror story could be constantly fighting with insurance companies to get proper therapies covered for the autistic child. They often try to deny claims, leaving the mom desperate to find a way to pay for expensive but necessary treatments.
A common horror story is social isolation. Moms often find that their social lives are severely restricted. Their friends may not understand why they can't just leave their autistic child with a sitter and go out. So, they end up feeling alone. Also, financial stress is huge. Therapies for autism can be very expensive and insurance may not cover everything. So, moms have to constantly worry about how to afford the best care for their kids.
Many moms face the issue of misdiagnosis. Some doctors might not be well - trained in autism diagnosis and could mislabel a child's symptoms, leading to wrong treatment plans. This can set the child back in their development. For example, my friend's child was misdiagnosed with ADHD first, and by the time they got the correct autism diagnosis, they had lost valuable time for early autism - specific interventions.
One horror story could be a mom constantly facing judgment from others. People might not understand her child's autism - related behaviors and blame her for not 'controlling' the child. For example, in public places like stores, when the child has a meltdown due to sensory overload, strangers stare and make unkind remarks.
Sure. In public places, an Autism Warrior Mom may face stares and unkind comments when her child has a meltdown. People don't realize that the child can't control it due to their autism. It can be really humiliating for the mom.
One horror story could be when the mom tries to get proper educational support for her autistic child. She might face a lot of bureaucracy and resistance from the school system. For example, the school may not want to provide the necessary individualized education plan (IEP) or may try to cut corners on services. It's a nightmare for the mom as she has to fight tooth and nail just to ensure her child gets the basic education they deserve.
Lack of understanding is a big one. People not getting why an autistic person does certain things, like repeating words or having sensory issues. It leads to bad situations.
One horror story could be dealing with the lack of understanding from society. My son with autism was once having a meltdown in a public place and instead of getting support, people just stared and made unkind comments. It was really disheartening as a mom.