I have 2 boys ages 9 and 11. My 9 year old has Autism and my 11 year old has ADHD and ODD.
It is extremely frustrating that people look down on them and frown at me and my parenting skills.
Because they have an invisible disability we have to jump through hoops to try and get any funding or support for them. After a child is diagnosed with any disability the parents should be informed of where to start trying to seek help.
Society gripes about the misfits and delinquents but the government is adding fuel to the fire by not offering support that parents are so desperately seeking.
It is not just about money it is about the morale support of others in the same situation. My husband and I are still trying to figure out where and what support is available to us (both financial and morale).
What the rest of society cannot understand is that parents with children who have invisible disabilities incur the same, if not more expenses than those who have the visible disabilities.
It's bad enough learning we have children but let's throw salt in the wound and make you go on a scavenger hunt that never ends to try and get help.
Social support for families is so important by: Anna The Special Life
Hi Judy. I understand what you mean completely. As the parent of both a child with physical disabilities and another with the invisible issue of Aspergers, I too see dramatic difference in social support.
It is still shocking (and discouraging) to realize how much more support my son with Aspergers needs over my physically disabled son. And how much more exhausting it is, both mentally and emotionally.
Then, when others, even those fairly close to him, refuse to acknowledge that there is a disability at work, it can be completely demoralizing.
The easiest thing to do is to self-isolate, just to avoid having to deal with an unsupportive 'public'.
Of course, that doesn't help him any, but in the short term it does give emotional breathing room for the family.
Hopefully, as more of us speak out, people will become more aware and supportive.
