Explicar el autismo a los demás

Hearing that your child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can certainly be jarring. Many parents in this situation experience a variety emotions — from sadness, grief, worry and concern, to anger, frustration and more.

Children with autism will need a lot of support, though what exactly they will need depends on the severity of their symptoms. Luckily, there are proven treatments that help children on the autism spectrum learn new skills, improve their social interactions and communication, and modify certain behaviors — led by applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy).

While the children who are diagnosed with autism will face the biggest direct challenges of their neurodevelopmental disorder, parents will be confronted with some unique indirect challenges as well. In addition to learning new ways to parent and provide the best support they can for their children, they also must explain autism to siblings, friends and other family members.

That in and of itself can be quite a daunting undertaking. Here are some tips for how you can explain autism to others.

Índice

Explain the Basics

Thanks to successful outreach, education and awareness campaigns, people generally know more about autism today than they did even 20 years ago. That has helped create more acceptance of individuals with autism as well as more inclusive environments for them.

That being said, there is still a very large social stigma surrounding autism. Many people only really know how extreme cases of autism can affect people, despite the fact that there are many nuances and that people on the autism spectrum are affected in very diverse ways.

A good place to start when explaining autism to others, then, is to start with the basics. Explain how most people who have autism face deficits with social interactions and communication, that many engage in repetitive behaviors and/or have restricted interests, and that they also may suffer from sensory sensitivities.

In addition to providing general information about it, it’s important to explain how your child’s autism directly impacts them. Detail the specific challenges that your child faces, how it impacts their lives and how you and others can help support them.

Be Open to Questions

Many people understand foreign things by asking questions. As you’re explaining autism to siblings, friends and family, realize that they will likely have many questions.

The more open you can be to these questions — actually inviting and encouraging them rather than being annoyed, angered or “turned off” by them — will help to foster understanding, empathy and acceptance.

Some of the common questions people might ask are what caused your child’s autism, what treatments they are getting and whether they can live an independent life. You can be prepared to answer these questions by researching these topics and engaging with your child’s health care and overall support team.

It also might help to provide other people with resources where they can learn more information. Organizations such as El autismo habla, for instance, can be a great resource to help supplement the information you’re giving others.

Discuss Not Just Challenges But Also Strengths

One of the biggest stigmas around ASD is that it presents people with so many challenges in life. While this is certainly true, there are many strengths that people with autism have — some of which are a direct result of their neurodevelopmental disorder.

You can help diffuse that stigma by discussing your child’s particular strengths and interests, and how others can engage with them and relate to them based on these. This can prove especially effective with young siblings.

Instead of only telling them what your child cannot do because of their autism diagnosis, tell them what they can do, what they’re good at and what they enjoy doing.

Many children on the autism spectrum are visual learners, for instance, and as a result may love things such as numbers, art and music. They may have exceptional memories and be able to recall things they have experienced in the past with amazing detail.

Highlighting your child’s strengths, instead of just focusing on their challenges, is a great way to open up others’ eyes to the many ways that autism affects people. It leads to greater understanding, higher engagement and better acceptance.

ChallengesStrengths
Difficulty with social interactions – Struggles with making eye contact, understanding emotions, or engaging in back-and-forth conversations.Strong memory and detail-oriented thinking – Many children with autism can recall specific details with accuracy and precision.
Sensory sensitivities – Overreaction or underreaction to sounds, lights, textures, or smells, which can cause distress or discomfort.Deep focus on specific interests – Children with autism often develop intense knowledge in areas of interest, such as math, science, or history.
Struggles with verbal/non-verbal communication – May have delayed speech, difficulty understanding tone or body language, or rely on alternative communication methods.Unique problem-solving skills – Some children with autism think outside the box and develop creative ways to solve challenges.
Repetitive behaviors & routines – Engages in repeated actions (e.g., hand-flapping, rocking) or follows strict routines that help with predictability.Creativity in art, music, or logic-based tasks – Many children with autism express themselves beautifully through artistic and logical activities.
Difficulty adapting to change – Transitions, unexpected events, or disruptions to a routine can be overwhelming.Honest, loyal, and structured thinking – Many individuals with autism value honesty, fairness, and structure, making them reliable and trustworthy.
Challenges with making friends – Social norms and unspoken rules of friendship can be confusing, making it harder to build relationships.Strong sense of justice and fairness – Many children with autism have a clear understanding of fairness and advocate for what is right.

 

Blue Gems ABA Supports Children with Autism and Their Families

It’s certainly not easy explaining autism to siblings, family and friends, especially if your child was recently diagnosed with ASD. Following some of the tips above will help to break down the barriers, open the lines of communication and hopefully lead to greater understanding, acceptance and empathy.

En Blue Gems ABA, our team of trained professionals directly supports children with autism by administering ABA therapy on a one-to-one basis, helping them build the social, communication and daily life skills with which they typically struggle.

We also support the families of children with autism, integrating them into the ABA therapy treatment plan, and equipping them with the knowledge, support, tools and strategies they can use to better support their children.

Para más información Contacto hoy.