"Anna has thoughtfully chosen a style that is succinct, easy to understand and practical, which means that this book is unlikely to remain unread and gather dust on someone’s bookshelf. Talking to Family and Friends about the Diagnosis will be frequently used for advice and words of wisdom."
Professor Tony Attwood
(Excerpt from Foreword)
Contents
- Introduction
- First Of All…Information
- Who Needs To Know?
- Why Do These People Need To Know?
- What Do I Tell Family and Friends?
- How Can Family and Friends Help Me?
- What Can I Say to Family and Friends That Will Help Them Understand My Needs?
- Grandparents
- Tips For Grandparents
- Siblings
- Teachers and Other Staff
- Students In The Same Classroom
- Being A Friend
- School Community
- Dealing with Friends’ Reactions
- As A Parent
- Be Aware Of
- Conclusion
- References
- Resources
Excerpt:
What Can I Say to Family and Friends That Will Help Them Understand My Needs?
Each time you see them:
- Repeat the strategies that you have in place for your child.
- Always use the term “we”.
- They will feel good about being included in your family situation.
- You may need to remind them to be flexible.
- “Sometimes this strategy works best when….”
- Discuss with them the possibilities and the reasons why some strategies don’t work.
- Discuss with them the reasons some strategies work on some days and not on other days.
- Approach family and friends without criticism (although it’s not always likely to be reciprocated)
- Remember that they are not learning about this at the same rate as you are. You live this disability 24 hours a day. They may not understand some of the strategies that you put into place.
- Remain positive and encourage family and friends to use the strategies even when they seem to be failing.
- Give them gentle reminders about working as a team in the best interests of the child.
- Encourage them to modify strategies to suit the situation.
- Give positive reinforcement for every effort they make.
- Remember to laugh at situations where you wish a hole would open up and swallow you whole! Falling apart with laughter will definitely stop you from falling apart.
- Laughter really is great medicine.