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Low Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism is the most common disorder of the autism spectrum disorders. It is characterized by a constellation of symptoms, yet each case presents individually. The subcategory of low-functioning autism is challenging for parents, educators, and medical professionals. Dealing with a low-functioning child with autism takes some special coping skills. Articles & Resources

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Low vs High Functioning Autism
Parents of children with low-functioning autism often face struggles in dealing with the parents of high-functioning children. Can the autism community overcome this division and come together to warmly accept all kinds of autism?

Remembering the Difference
Low-functioning autism (LFA) is a great deal different than high-functioning autism (HFA). Remembering the differences can help not only our children but the autism spectrum disorder community as a whole.

Autism-Proof Your Home
Parents of children on the autism spectrum often find it necessary to go to extraordinary lengths to protect not only their children, but their possessions as well. Here are some tips to make life a litte easier and a lot safer.

Low Functioning Autism Disorders
There are definite differences between low functioning and high functioning people with autism. Understanding these differences can help with treatment and therapy choices. This is one of the best Web sites I have found regarding LFA.

But My Kid is Low-Functioning... Comments Regarding LFA
This is an interesting set of quotes from letters pertaining on the raising of a child with low functioning autism. Reading this can be supportive to other parents and help

Article: Sources of Stress for Families of Children with Autism
By Connie Limon

Parents are already familiar with the stress that comes from preparing meals, bathing, doing homework, shopping and so on. In addition to these stressors are those that parents encounter with parent-child conflicts, busy schedules, and ensuring the general well-being of their children. A family with a child on the autism spectrum experiences even more stressors, many of them unique to autism.

Current research suggests that parents of children with autism experience greater stress than parents of children with other intellectual disabilities. A child with autism may not be able to express basic wants and needs in the same manner as other children. Parents are often left guessing why their child is crying. Is it because he/she is hungry, thirsty, hurting, or sick? Not being about to determine the child's needs can leave parents feeling frustrated and unhappy.

On the other hand, the child's inability to communicate may cause him or her to feel just as frustrated or unhappy. The child's frustration can lead to problem behaviors such as aggression and self-injury.

The lack of appropriate social and play skills characteristic of children with autism can have a serious impact on the structuring of family time. Families may not be able to attend events together. One parent may have to stay home with a child with autism while the other takes a the child's brother or sister to a ball game or a school concert.

This, in turn, may even create problems in the marital relationship and may exacerbate pre-existing problems. Parents may find it difficult to spend time alone, given the lack of qualified people to care for children with autism.

Other sources of stress for parents of children with autism may include:
* Reactions from the community: Parents may feel self-conscious about taking a child with autism into the community. They may fear others will stare or make rude comments about their child. These problems may leave parents of children with autism experiencing a sense of isolation from friends, relatives and community.
* Concerns about future care: Parents know they provide their children the best care possible and they fear that no one else will take care of their them like they do.
* Finances: Evaluations, home programs and therapies can drain a family�s resources. One parent may have to give up his or job to take care of the child, leaving the family with even less money to meet financial obligations.
* Feelings of grief: Many parents of children with autism grieve the loss of the �typical� child they expected to have. They also grieve the loss of a lifestyle they expected or planned for themselves and their family. This can be an additional source of ongoing stress on the family.
Siblings' sources of stress may include:
* Embarrassment around their peers and jealousy about the extra time parents need to spend with their brother or sister
* Frustration about not being about to communicate effectively with a brother or sister who has autism
* The possibility of being the target of aggressive behaviors from a sibling with autism.
* Worries over their parents' stress and grief.
* Concern about their role as a future caregiver for their sibling or siblings with autism.
Grandparents also grieve over the loss of the typical grandchild expected and may be concerned about the stress and difficulties their children are experiencing. Grandparents often want to help, but lack the skills to deal with children who have autism.
How can families cope with the stress of living with a child or children who have autism? Some suggestions for helping families may include:
* Remember that you must take action before progress toward solutions can be made.
* Take time for yourself and other family members to avoid burnout, keeping in mind that just a few minutes a day can make a big difference.
* Do things for yourself that you know would normally make you feel better.
* Encourage family members to reward each other with compliments, maybe even the occasional gift or card.
* Spouses need to acknowledge the hard work each is performing.
* Make sure that siblings are always thanked for their efforts in caring for their brothers or sisters.
* Spouses need to find time to be alone, even if it's spent just watching television while their child sleeps.
* Families may also want to occasionally engage in activities without the child with autism.
* Get in contact with other families affected by autism and exchange information on coping and strategies you use to meet daily challenges.
* Attend support groups for parents, siblings and grandparents through educational programs, parent resource centers, and local chapters of autism societies or other oganizations.
* Try exercising. You may not be able to do this on a regular basis, but do what you can.
* Keep a personal journal. Writing things down has been proven to be therapeutic.
* Keep a daily schedule of tasks to accomplish.
If you witness a family member or a friend showing signs of stress, do what you can to help. Mutual support is essential in helping children with autism and in helping everyone involved with the child.

Source: American Autism Society
About the author: Connie Limon. Visit her at http://www.about-autism.info for more information about autism spectrum disorders.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a health problem. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Always consult with your health care provider about any kind of a health problem and especially before beginning any kind of an exercise routine.