What is an Empowered and Engaged Autism Parent?

And more importantly, how can you become one?!

The definition of ‘engaged’ is “to be or to act with energy and enthusiasm.” When we talk about an engaged autism parent, we’re talking about a parent who is energized and enthusiastic about helping their child thrive. 

They aren’t burnt out or exhausted. Sure, they may be tired, but they have bad days, not bad months (or years). They focus on their own self-care so they can be the best version of themselves, without getting resentful.

This is a parent who doesn’t give up trying when things get tough. Instead, they’re committed to the idea of helping their child succeed and are dedicated to helping them develop their lagging skills. 

An EEAP has empowered themselves with the information to make the best decisions not only for their child but for themselves. By equipping yourself with the knowledge and tools to authentically raise an autistic child in a neurodiversity-affirming way, you too can begin to feel empowered and engaged.

The Definition of an Empowered and Engaged Autism Parent

The tagline for my business reads “The evolution of autism parenting.” That’s my goal! To help transform how people view autism parents. But also to change the way parents of autistic kids look at their children, and how they support their kids. 

My goal is to create a world where society views autism parenting (and autism parents) as something helpful and supportive…I’m on a mission to help autistic children and their families thrive!

I want parents of autistic children to lead happier, more fulfilling lives. This includes supporting them to empower themselves so they can engage more deeply with their child(ren).

We create the Evolution of Autism Parenting by empowering and engaging autism parents. EEAPs are empowered with knowledge that helps create empathy for themselves and their children. This leads to higher levels of engagement with their child in ways that benefit everyone. 

How to be an Empowered and Engaged Autism Parent

A simple search for “autism and parenting” results in thousands (millions?!) of articles, blogs, and social media sites. Parents of autistic children can find advice ranging from how to deal with aggressive behavior to teaching their child to cook. But while most parents would agree that the Internet has made it easier to find information, it can also be overwhelming.

Some of the advice out there is good, and some of it, to put it kindly, isn’t. Knowing where to turn for positive, supportive information about autism is key to ensuring you have the right mindset about what’s going on for your child.

So, I start by including this list of suggestions with my coaching clients:

• Find neurodiverse, autism-positive sources of support and information. Take in as much of that information as possible!
• Dedicate yourself to discovering how your child’s autism affects them in particular. Learn about what autism means for your child(ren) and the rest of your family. 
• Flex your empathy muscles! No matter how hard a meltdown is on you, trust me that it’s worse for your child.
• Put your child's communication style at the forefront of your interactions with them. All behavior is communication. They may not be able to ask for the help they need in a way you intuitively understand, but be willing to learn. Be flexible as you figure it out together.
• Take care of yourself! Saved the best for last. Self-care helps you be the best parent possible and avoid burnout. The parenting journey you’re on is a marathon, not a sprint…make sure you take time for yourself along the way.

Resources for Empowered and Engaged Autism Parents...

There are a lot of resources out there for parents of autistic children. However, the resources that truly empower and encourage us to do more than just survive, are scarce….I want more than that for you and your family!

Here are some resources that are worth checking out:

• Autism Specific Meditations for when you need a little recharge.
• A free self-care guide you can use to create a personalized self-care plan that actually works for autism parents like you.
• Hire an autism parent coach! Shameless plug, I know #SorryNotSorry
• Educate yourself on the education options for your autistic child…this article contains links to all of my education-specific posts and is a great source of information.
• Lastly, these are some of my favorite creators…Chris Bonello from Autistic Not Weird, Bill Nason creates The Autism Discussion Page, and reberrabon_bon over on Instagram always has great insights!

Conclusion

You’re never going to be a perfect parent, and neither am I. There will probably always be things we wish we did differently. And that’s ok! 

Don’t be afraid to admit you’re not quite sure what you’re doing…autistic kids don’t come with instruction guides! We all love our kids and we’re all just doing the best we can to help them. 

As long as you’re committed to doing the best you can for them, and you’re willing to realize that taking care of yourself is part of that equation, I think you’ll both be just fine.

Drop a comment and let me know: How are you working to better yourself as a parent and better engage with your child? What resources have you found helpful in your autism parenting journey? I’d love to know what’s working for you and your family!