Hi, on the directory there are many coaches listed. Most of them work remotely via zoom. I was wondering if anyone has any experience / recommendations as I am thinking this might help my son who is 11 years old but it's like picking a needle from a haystack as there are so many.
At age 52 and recently diagnosed with autism in 2021, one thing that I have discovered about Autism is that there is a huge ignorance out there on the part of most people and refusal to acknowledge our struggles with autism and a point-blank refusal (perhaps based on prejudice) to understand anything about autism - there are those that still believe and maintain that the only way to manage both child and adult autism is via ultra strict discipline (and effective punishment for being autistic) in all settings, including by automatically disagreeing with and disapproving of everything the autistic person says or does or behaves, for the sake of disagreement/disapproval and as a form of “therapy” labelling all autistic behaviours as “mental health” and “behavioural” “issues” that need to be “corrected” by the use of “discipline” (punishment) and as correctly stated by others on this forum, is in reality abusive, in response to what is largely seen as a disability, yet at the same time, we are effectively in limbo, with ever decreasing services as a child becomes an adult and practically zero services for autistic adults - as a gay man who came out as gay in my teens, despite the fact that so many LGBT’s are known to be autistic and face huge prejudice and discrimination within the LGBT community if they “come out” (as autistic), there are no services within the LGBT community either - a child perhaps has a better chance of getting better access to the most relevant types of support, but as someone gets older, accessing relevant support (including private - and not just public or via autism charities) becomes more difficult, as we don’t know for sure what kind of support is wanted/needed going forward - the kinds of post-diagnostic supports required are very rarely if ever highlighted in the initial autism diagnosis (even if via Zoom snd email) nor in any initial post diagnostic assessments, something which needs to become a legal requirement, which failure to do so needs to become an issue of serious professional misconduct, especially in cases of children who are diagnosed with Autism
At age 52 and recently diagnosed with autism in 2021, one thing that I have discovered about Autism is that there is a huge ignorance out there on the part of most people and refusal to acknowledge our struggles with autism and a point-blank refusal (perhaps based on prejudice) to understand anything about autism - there are those that still believe and maintain that the only way to manage both child and adult autism is via ultra strict discipline (and effective punishment for being autistic) in all settings, including by automatically disagreeing with and disapproving of everything the autistic person says or does or behaves, for the sake of disagreement/disapproval and as a form of “therapy” labelling all autistic behaviours as “mental health” and “behavioural” “issues” that need to be “corrected” by the use of “discipline” (punishment) and as correctly stated by others on this forum, is in reality abusive, in response to what is largely seen as a disability, yet at the same time, we are effectively in limbo, with ever decreasing services as a child becomes an adult and practically zero services for autistic adults - as a gay man who came out as gay in my teens, despite the fact that so many LGBT’s are known to be autistic and face huge prejudice and discrimination within the LGBT community if they “come out” (as autistic), there are no services within the LGBT community either - a child perhaps has a better chance of getting better access to the most relevant types of support, but as someone gets older, accessing relevant support (including private - and not just public or via autism charities) becomes more difficult, as we don’t know for sure what kind of support is wanted/needed going forward - the kinds of post-diagnostic supports required are very rarely if ever highlighted in the initial autism diagnosis (even if via Zoom snd email) nor in any initial post diagnostic assessments, something which needs to become a legal requirement, which failure to do so needs to become an issue of serious professional misconduct, especially in cases of children who are diagnosed with Autism
I do feel a bit overwhelmed when it comes to seeking advice & support for my husband & children & although we were given recommendations as part of the assessment & outcome, most of it I need to find or do myself (e.g books, reading, finding therapists) I did ask the company who assessed my family for ongoing support, but she is inundated. My son is being seen by the local team, but by the time his appointment comes it will be approx 6 months wait.
I actually find these forums & support groups the most helpful.
Although we have realised traditional discipline won't work with my kids, we need to find some way of communicating and setting some boundaries. The boys do know what is and isn't "acceptable" forms of beha
