How To Be Your Child's Greatest Advocate

By Mark Hutten, M.A.
There is a series of stages that parents go through when they learn that their child has High-Functioning Autism or Asperger's. Often there is an expected confusion when the youngster doesn’t seem to conform to “normal” childhood standards. When the diagnosis is made, a sense of grief can occur with the loss of the anticipated “typical child.”

Some moms and dads remain in that stage and can't see the positive aspects their child brings to the family and the world in general. Other parents are relieved to know that there is a name for the "difference" in their youngster and that this "disorder" has nothing to do with "bad parenting."

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