The sound of a new born’s cries; the smell of new birth, the joy of welcoming a baby is one of the most exhilarating feelings and experiences for any parent, including the tired mother. Most often, even before the children are born, parents have dreamed up the journey of what life will be like with and for their children. The dream of what the future has in store for your child energises parents to push and strive to give their best efforts to the needs and development of their children.

At 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, and sometimes 36 months, parents may notice that their children are not developing like their children’s peers. Some may not be bothered, hoping that it will all happen soon; others will go to the specialists to inquire just to allay their fears.

To be told that your child has a disability can be traumatising for parents’. “What do I do with the dreams I had for my child?” “Why me?” “Did I miss something when I was pregnant?” “I took all the meds, I attended all the antenatal sessions… where did I go wrong?” These are some of the questions that plague parents.

Research has shown that within that moment, most parents cannot distinguish between the unconscious wish for an idealised normal, developing, adorable child from the unthinkable sudden reality of a child who is different. It is especially confusing for parents, seeing that their child on the autism spectrum has no special physical features depicting autism as compared to other forms of disability.

In most cases, some parents may seek professional advice after noticing the problem before the child’s second birthday. Research shows that the manner in which a diagnosis is explained to parents can have a profound impact on parents’ attitudes toward their children and professionals. For some parents, trying to comprehend the disparity between their desires for their child and the disability that exists compounds their emotional and intellectual efforts as they try to adjust to the situation. They may become depressed, feel guilty, ashamed and sometimes they may be grief-stricken. Depending on the severity of the disability, and the demand for coping, fewer parents may contemplate death.

It is okay for parents to go through all these emotions and cry when they feel like doing so, but it is best to seek professional help and to love the child unconditionally.

In the midst of the unknown, parents are encouraged to seek help, gather all the information they can and support their child as best as they possibly can. The parent is always the child’s first therapist, so why wait? Pick yourself up, put yourself together for the sake of your beautiful child and run the race to get early intervention for your child.

With early intervention, you have nothing to lose and everything else to gain.

Just think about it!