Helping Children on the Autism Spectrum Through Divorce
Your very sensitive youngster with Aspergers (AS) or high functioning autism (HFA) will probably sense marital discord long before you do – even if you believe you've been very secretive about it. He may internalize what is occurring around him and assume personal responsibility for it. It is a very disturbing time for child with special needs, and the internal personalization of the situation cannot be contained indefinitely. In the AS or HFA youngster, this can manifest itself in: Depressive symptoms Heightened anxiety Increase in “acting out” or other “attention-seeking” behaviors Increased difficulty in school Post-traumatic stress disorder Rashes and other skin irritations Regular symptoms of physical illness Maintaining peace wherever possible and providing reassurances as the divorce unfolds are important considerations for helping AS children through divorce. Here are 20 crucial tips for helping your child with the transition from a traditional two-par