The First Year: Autism Spectrum Disorders
First Signs, Inc. Founder Nancy D. Wiseman’s Parent Guide to Autism
Oct 14, 2009
First Signs, Inc. founder Nancy D. Wiseman, the mother of a child with autism, helps parents learn how to cope with an autism diagnosis in her book The First Year: Autism Spectrum Disorders [ISBN: 9781600940651]. The book, published by De Capo Press in 2009, serves as a useful guide for parents in the year following a child’s autism diagnosis.
With a forward by Kenneth Bock, MD, The First Year is a comprehensive guide for families with a child that has been newly diagnosed with autism. The book provides families with ways to cope in those first seven days after diagnosis. Families can then reflect with first-week milestone activities. The book goes on to support parents as their journey passes the first month, half-year, and first-year milestones. Each chapter is broken into two main sections, learning and living. Parents learn about a specific topic and then understand how to live with that knowledge.
Autism Diagnosis Day
When a parent leaves the doctor’s office after hearing “your child has autism,” they often feel confused, worried and scared, and they experience a whole bevy of emotions. Many parents will remember this day, autism diagnosis day, as though it were yesterday.
The First Year starts on day one and encourages parents to learn more about autism spectrum disorders, what is autism, how does autism affect her child, what types of autism are in the DSM, myths about autism, what causes autism, and much more.
After making it through day one, Wiseman encourages parents to affirm and accept the diagnosis and begin creating an action plan for their child. Early intervention is key and autism diagnosis day is not too early to start looking into autism therapy and education options.
Autism Therapy, Education, and Intervention Options
The vast amount of information available on autism therapy, education, and intervention options is mind-boggling at first. Wiseman breaks these topics down into several thorough chapters.
The First Year encourages parents to explore a wide variety of integrated therapy and intervention options including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the DIR/Floortime Model, and biomedical interventions. Additionally, parents should research more traditional therapy options like speech-language therapy, social skills training, and occupational therapy.
Finding Balance
As Wiseman walks parents through the first year after autism diagnosis day, she guides them towards acceptance and balance. The first weeks and months after receiving an autism diagnosis can be a whirlwind of doctor’s appointments, therapist visits, and moments of both joy and despair. By encouraging parents to seek balance in their lives, she is preparing them for their future as the parent of a child with autism.
Although this book is a useful tool for families that have a child newly diagnosed with autism, it is also a good resource for families that have a child undergoing diagnostic testing and many families with children with autism, regardless of how recent the diagnosis was made.
