Parenting a Child with Autism: Trusting Your Instincts

Ron and Lisa Simmons, parents to a child with autism, share insights from their journey. They highlight the challenges and realities of raising a child on the spectrum, understanding how to navigate available advice.

Lisa notes that many children on the spectrum might be “floppy,” indicating lower muscle tone, which can lead to slower developmental progress. “Their fine motor skills are just delayed,” she observes.

Despite these signs, she reassures that these traits don’t necessarily indicate a future autism diagnosis. “It could just mean they have a different learning style. Autism is defined quite broadly today,” she explains.

For Lisa, the key message for parents is to “trust your gut.” If something feels off, it probably is. Ron adds that just because a doctor says otherwise, it shouldn’t be taken as absolute truth. “You’re the one thinking about your child after the appointment,” he emphasizes, reminding parents to be their child’s strongest advocates.

This approach applies even when doctors provide diagnoses, suggesting limits on a child’s abilities. Lisa recounts how she ignored the advice that her son would never be able to ride a bike. They practiced continuously, starting with a stationary bike setup with training wheels, which allowed her son to build strength in his legs. Soon enough, he was riding on two wheels and even joined a rollerblading hockey team.

“Don’t just accept the first answer,” Lisa advises.