Parents of Children with Autism- Undergraduate Survey on Parent's Feelings

April 8, 2008

Hi everyone,

I am new to this group and I just joined it because I am highly interested in

children and

Autism (ASD, PDD, SI etc.). My name is and I am currently an undergrad

at Lesley

University; where I am in the Dual Degree Program for Early Childhood Education,

double

majoring in Child and Family Studies and Specializing in Special Education. Last

semester I

had a child with SI in my student teaching class and I fell in love with him and

was amazed

by his abilities. I then registered into a few autism courses this semester:

Intro to Autism

and DIR: Floortime. I find that the more I learn about children with Autism,

the more I am

amazed by them! I am currently in a class called Current Issues in Child and

Family

Studies, which is my capstone to my double major of Child and Family Studies.

Therefore, I

chose to write my research paper on Mothers of children with Autism (ASD, SI,

PDD). I

admire your patience, strength and hope so much, I chose to write about it. My

research

question is: How do parents, especially mothers, react to and cope with their

child's

diagnosis of ASD? I created a survey/interview on a word document, which

contains 13

questions. All questions are optional/ no names or specifics are asked. I was

wondering

if anyone would be willing to fill it out for me, or even just be able to tell

me a little about

your experience. I could email you the document or copy/paste it into a post

message. I

could also post it on surveymonkey.com if that would also help. Honestly any

little bit

would help tremendously!

Thanks so much!!!!!!

April 8, 2008

Hello ,

Speaking strictly from my own experience, as a mom you simply cope.

There is no alernative. No two people, however, can be expected to

feel the same way. There are so many factors which influence

acceptance versus despair. I am fortunate, I have a loving spouse who

is a good father and helps any way he can. I am also lucky that my

son is merely considered 'quirky'. He has his issues, but is

extremely high-functioning - in my eyes - and we simply deal with any

difficulties as best we can. For instance, with CAPD, we use

strategies to help him cope and let people know ahead of time that he

may need instructions repeated or rephrased because he processes

information differently.

I suspect that many individuals, particularly adults, are on the

spectrum, but were never identified. These days, children are more

prone to be 'disected' (for lack of a better term) because there is

greater awareness of ASD's.

Once I might have trembled at the thought that my child had a

learning disorder/difference. Perhaps, my life experiences have given

me a better understanding and capacity to be open to diagnoses. Now,

it is simply a matter of taking the 'label' and running with it to

receive suppports that will ensure that my child becomes the best

person he is able to, successful in his own right and most of all,

happy.

I came to this acceptance easily because my other child was born with

a severe disability. I was initially terrified and felt utterly

hopeless following the prognosis she was given. It took a loooong

time to process and accept that the visions I originally held would

not come true. I slowly learned to grow - right alongside her - to

accept the challenges and applaud the small gains as huge

accomplishments. My little girl has since passed on and I only wish I

could have the time back because I wouldn't have fretted over the

challenges... she taught ME. I would simply enjoy each day that she

graced our lives, pure of heart and love.

Sincerely,

Velvet

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I am new to this group and I just joined it because I am highly

interested in children and

> Autism (ASD, PDD, SI etc.). My name is and I am currently

an undergrad at Lesley

> University; where I am in the Dual Degree Program for Early

Childhood Education, double

> majoring in Child and Family Studies and Specializing in Special

Education. Last semester I

> had a child with SI in my student teaching class and I fell in love

with him and was amazed

> by his abilities. I then registered into a few autism courses this

semester: Intro to Autism

> and DIR: Floortime. I find that the more I learn about children

with Autism, the more I am

> amazed by them! I am currently in a class called Current Issues in

Child and Family

> Studies, which is my capstone to my double major of Child and

Family Studies. Therefore, I

> chose to write my research paper on Mothers of children with Autism

(ASD, SI, PDD). I

> admire your patience, strength and hope so much, I chose to write

about it. My research

> question is: How do parents, especially mothers, react to and cope

with their child's

> diagnosis of ASD? I created a survey/interview on a word document,

which contains 13

> questions. All questions are optional/ no names or specifics are

asked. I was wondering

> if anyone would be willing to fill it out for me, or even just be

able to tell me a little about

> your experience. I could email you the document or copy/paste it

into a post message. I

> could also post it on surveymonkey.com if that would also help.

Honestly any little bit

> would help tremendously!

>

> Thanks so much!!!!!!

>

April 9, 2008

Hi send me one i will do it. Sherryaburkett86 <aburkett86@...> wrote: Hi everyone,I am new to this group and I just joined it because I am highly interested in children and Autism (ASD, PDD, SI etc.). My name is and I am currently an undergrad at Lesley University; where I am in the Dual Degree Program for Early Childhood Education, double majoring in Child and Family Studies and Specializing in Special Education. Last semester I had a child with SI in my student teaching class and I fell in

love with him and was amazed by his abilities. I then registered into a few autism courses this semester: Intro to Autism and DIR: Floortime. I find that the more I learn about children with Autism, the more I am amazed by them! I am currently in a class called Current Issues in Child and Family Studies, which is my capstone to my double major of Child and Family Studies. Therefore, I chose to write my research paper on Mothers of children with Autism (ASD, SI, PDD). I admire your patience, strength and hope so much, I chose to write about it. My research question is: How do parents, especially mothers, react to and cope with their child's diagnosis of ASD? I created a survey/interview on a word document, which contains 13 questions. All questions are optional/ no names or specifics are asked. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to fill it out for me, or even just be able to tell me a little about your experience. I could

email you the document or copy/paste it into a post message. I could also post it on surveymonkey.com if that would also help. Honestly any little bit would help tremendously! Thanks so much!!!!!! __________________________________________________

April 9, 2008

Hi - I'm new to this board and am a Single mom of an Aspie and would love to help you out. Thank you, Debaburkett86 <aburkett86@...> wrote: Hi everyone,I am new to this group and I just joined it because I am highly interested in children and Autism (ASD, PDD, SI etc.). My name is and I am currently an undergrad at Lesley University; where I am in the Dual Degree Program for Early Childhood Education, double majoring in Child and Family Studies

and Specializing in Special Education. Last semester I had a child with SI in my student teaching class and I fell in love with him and was amazed by his abilities. I then registered into a few autism courses this semester: Intro to Autism and DIR: Floortime. I find that the more I learn about children with Autism, the more I am amazed by them! I am currently in a class called Current Issues in Child and Family Studies, which is my capstone to my double major of Child and Family Studies. Therefore, I chose to write my research paper on Mothers of children with Autism (ASD, SI, PDD). I admire your patience, strength and hope so much, I chose to write about it. My research question is: How do parents, especially mothers, react to and cope with their child's diagnosis of ASD? I created a survey/interview on a word document, which contains 13 questions. All questions are optional/ no names or specifics are asked. I was wondering if

anyone would be willing to fill it out for me, or even just be able to tell me a little about your experience. I could email you the document or copy/paste it into a post message. I could also post it on surveymonkey.com if that would also help. Honestly any little bit would help tremendously! Thanks so much!!!!!! __________________________________________________

April 9, 2008

Debbie,

I would just like to thank you so much for helping me with this paper.

I am currently reading memoirs from family members, but would love to

gain the info first hand! I am fascinated by children with Autism and

hope to bring everything I have learned into my future classroom

someday; which will be hopefully soon

I greatly appreciate you taking the time out to help me. Please feel

free to pick and choose questions to answer, and bullet answers etc.

I realize how lengthy some questions can be, so even one answered

would be great! I know you must have your hands full with your child,

so any little bit would help! Also, take as much time as you need; If

you could send this back within the next two weeks that would be so

helpful!

I will send it as an attachment & copy/paste it here; so use which ever is

easiest! Thanks again

Burkett

Lesley University: Dual Degree in Early Childhood Education, Double Majoring in

Child and Family Studies and Specializing in Special Education

Being a future educator (and hopeful mother myself someday), I would love to

learn more about Autism. Therefore, for my final capstone to my undergraduate

double major of Child and Family Studies, I chose to write a paper on this

topic: How do parents, especially mothers, react to and cope with their

childâ€™s diagnosis of ASD? All Questions are optional. Any little bit would

help! Please feel free to bullet or abbreviate; no complete sentences needed. I

can go back & do all that.

Thank you so much for doing this!!!! â˜º

Are you a male or female? M OR F

What is your childâ€™s diagnosis?

How old was your child when he/she was diagnosed?

Were there any signs leading up to your childâ€™s diagnosis? If so, what were

they?

How old is your child now?

What was your initial reaction/s when you first heard your childâ€™s diagnosis?

What would you say your stress level was when you first heard your childâ€™s

diagnosis? Has it changed now since then? If so, How?

I know that some days can be really stressful, what do you do to release it?

How have your thoughts/ feelings changed now from then (if any change)?

Have your family dynamics changed at all? If so, how?

Do you have any worries or fears concerning your childâ€™s diagnosis?

What is your ultimate goal/ dream for him/her?

What is the one thing you want teachers to know about your child?

THANKS AGAIN

> Hi everyone,

>

> I am new to this group and I just joined it because I am

> highly interested in children and

> Autism (ASD, PDD, SI etc.). My name is and I am

> currently an undergrad at Lesley

> University; where I am in the Dual Degree Program for Early

> Childhood Education, double

> majoring in Child and Family Studies and Specializing in

> Special Education. Last semester I

> had a child with SI in my student teaching class and I fell

> in love with him and was amazed

> by his abilities. I then registered into a few autism

> courses this semester: Intro to Autism

> and DIR: Floortime. I find that the more I learn about

> children with Autism, the more I am

> amazed by them! I am currently in a class called Current

> Issues in Child and Family

> Studies, which is my capstone to my double major of Child

> and Family Studies. Therefore, I

> chose to write my research paper on Mothers of children

> with Autism (ASD, SI, PDD). I

> admire your patience, strength and hope so much, I chose to

> write about it. My research

> question is: How do parents, especially mothers, react to

> and cope with their child's

> diagnosis of ASD? I created a survey/interview on a word

> document, which contains 13

> questions. All questions are optional/ no names or

> specifics are asked. I was wondering

> if anyone would be willing to fill it out for me, or even

> just be able to tell me a little about

> your experience. I could email you the document or

> copy/paste it into a post message. I

> could also post it on surveymonkey.com if that would also

> help. Honestly any little bit

> would help tremendously!

>

> Thanks so much!!!!!!

>

> __________________________________________________

>

April 9, 2008

Sherry,