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Diagnosis Asperger's Syndrome; Now What?

Has your child just been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome? Are you unsure what to do next? Take heart! You are not alone. Each year countless thousands are leaving consultation rooms with a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome for their children, and there are more questions than answers. Fortunately, there are some very real answers that can help you map out what to do next.

* Accept your new role. You are no longer just a parent but also an advocate for your child. As an advocate, you are a believer, promoter, backer, activist, negotiator, and clam in the storm. You are the one who will tell the school administrator "no" when it comes to special education, or who will force the administrator to find a special education aide for your child if you believe it necessary.

* You must see your child's weaknesses and her strengths. Do not get caught on either side. Many parents make the mistake of either focusing solely on their child's limitations, making the youngster believe that she is disabled, or they only focus on the child's strengths, making her believe that her limitations are only in her mind. Both extremes are dangerous and of little value to your child. Instead, you need to have a clear, unbiased view of your child's limitations and also strengths, and then help your child to build on her strengths while learning to overcome and deal with her limitations.

* Join a support group for parents of children with Asperger's Syndrome. They are plentiful and your doctor or specialist most likely has some information. These groups are an absolute must have for any caregiver. It is there that you can vent your frustration and not walk on egg shells as you might be prone to do at home. There you can give a voice to your anger, your fears, and your ill will toward the gods, the doctors, the school administrators and even your child. Getting it out of your system makes parenting a child with Asperger's Syndrome a lot easier than trying to eat it all in.

* Recognize that you must be a visible figure on campus. There is no excuse for not being there. Instead, the teachers should know you by name, have you on speed dial, and expect you to be popping in your head now and then for an in between progress report. The teachers need to recognize you as being there to lend your support, help and strength, while being a fount of information for teaching a child with Asperger's Syndrome. This takes time but if you set up your schedule properly, it can be done.

Parenting a child with Asperger's Syndrome is frightening and there is no nice way of putting it in perspective. Take heart in the fact that other parents have gone before you and done spectacular jobs at preparing their youngsters for successful scholastic careers. On the flipside, plenty of parents who decided to leave their child's education process to third parties lived to regret their decision when their child experienced frustrating episodes on a virtually daily basis.