Here is Part 4 of our “My Autism Story” series!
What is your name?
Harriet Rwanda.
How old is your child?
He is 5 years old.
When did you discover your child was autistic?
We found out when he was 2.5 years old but got the official diagnosis at 4 years old.
How has your autism journey been?
It has been tough and emotional, filled with love and exciting discoveries of things my son has done and can do. We take a day at a time.
How has autism affected your life on a day-to-day basis?
I have to be more intentional with my parenting. Every moment is a teaching moment.
Do you do any kind of therapy? What are the costs like? Is the therapy helpful?
We do speech therapy. It is very helpful but quite expensive – Ksh 3000 per session. I am grateful for a good employer who pays for it. Speech therapy has helped us a lot in our speech, and we can now communicate ☺!
How about school? Is your child in school? What is the experience like for you and your child? If your child is not in school, how do you keep him/her engaged?
We are in school and I must confess that this is another struggle for many parents. In my opinion, good schools are too pricey. We however found a good school and he loves it there. He is in an integrated school and has learnt so much since we enrolled him there. In general, the school is very good.
What keeps you going and not giving up?
Progress and knowing I am all my son has. I am his world and I have the responsibility of preparing him for this world.
Do you practise self-care? Do you ever get a chance to recharge?
Yes, I do. Self-care is important for everyone, including moms of neurotypical kids.
What advice would you give parents of special needs children?
It is ok to be in denial, but for the sake of your child, you’ll need to snap out of it quickly. With our kids, time is of the essence and each moment counts. It is ok to wallow in self-pity for a short while but after that period is over, get out of it. Our kids depend on us completely and unfortunately because of this we can’t hide forever 😭.
What advice would you give a parent who is scared of getting their child checked for autism?
Be conscious of time, as early intervention is key. It may seem dark and gloomy when you get the diagnosis but you will discover a side of your child that you will fall in love with each day…” the glass is half full, not empty”.
What words of encouragement would you give a parent who has just gotten the news that their child is autistic?
Some days are tougher than others but just like the sun always shines, it will get better. Get a support group of people who understand you – it really comes in handy – a place you can have a bad day and no one will judge you
What quote or Bible verse keeps you going?
Be kind to everyone, it costs nothing. You never know what struggles people are facing.
Being an Autism parent I would wish to know more about this state.