22 months old son

Your GP is wise. ABA is about training the autism out of kids, stopping them stimming and forcing social contact etc - never a good idea. Trying to make them not them will only damage an autistic kiddie in the long run.

I get that you'd feel lost. All parents want the best for their kids. But what you might not be seeing right now is that he could grow up to have a rewarding life with enough of the right support and a acceptance of who he is. Being an autistic adult isn't all agony and melt down, you know. I'm glad I'm autistic. I wouldn't want to not be me. It can be a lot of fun in my head when my special interests are out to play with my hyperfocus and some of my traits have fueled my best achievements. You say he's bright...

Your son is very young yet. You don't yet know how his autism will develop. In a sense you are very lucky to have a diagnosis for him so young. That will help you to help him be the best, happiest him he can be.

As for the communication...well we are different in that regard. Some remain non verbal yet can write beautifully, others just have a speech delay; nothing for three years then suddenly fully formed sentences - don't assume he doesn't understand just because he isn't talking. Others, like me, had advanced speech development, but learned by echolalia and I use to practice talking to the animals on my wall paper, rather than people, who I didn't address unless I needed some thing.

Your GP is wise. ABA is about training the autism out of kids, stopping them stimming and forcing social contact etc - never a good idea. Trying to make them not them will only damage an autistic kiddie in the long run.

I get that you'd feel lost. All parents want the best for their kids. But what you might not be seeing right now is that he could grow up to have a rewarding life with enough of the right support and a acceptance of who he is. Being an autistic adult isn't all agony and melt down, you know. I'm glad I'm autistic. I wouldn't want to not be me. It can be a lot of fun in my head when my special interests are out to play with my hyperfocus and some of my traits have fueled my best achievements. You say he's bright...

Your son is very young yet. You don't yet know how his autism will develop. In a sense you are very lucky to have a diagnosis for him so young. That will help you to help him be the best, happiest him he can be.

As for the communication...well we are different in that regard. Some remain non verbal yet can write beautifully, others just have a speech delay; nothing for three years then suddenly fully formed sentences - don't assume he doesn't understand just because he isn't talking. Others, like me, had advanced speech development, but learned by echolalia and I use to practice talking to the animals on my wall paper, rather than people, who I didn't address unless I needed some thing.