Any parent or carer who has a child or children with autism will say their role is challenging, but also rewarding and supportive.
Their message for Autism Awareness Month (April) is to promote the ongoing need for social networks that can help children thrive.
Autism spectrum disorder appears in infancy and early childhood, causing delays in many basic areas of development, such as learning to talk, play, and interact with others.
A report from HelpGuide.org shows that early and intensive intervention – ideally before 18 months – is crucial.
Early signs of autism can include a child not making eye contact, not responding to their name, not using gestures to communicate – such as waving or pointing, or not responding to physical contact such as a cuddle.
As children get older, the signs of autism become more diverse, typically revolving around impaired social skills, speech and language difficulties, non-verbal communication difficulties, and inflexible behavior.
A key group in St George that assists parents is the Autism Community Network.
Network founder, Steve Drakoulis, a Beverly Hills father of two (one of whom has High Functioning Autism), has been an advocate in the community for many years, supporting families with children who have an autism spectrum disorder.
“Autism can be very isolating,” he said.
“It impacts not just on the individual but also on their family and by extension the wider community.”
He said many families felt misunderstood.
“It is very easy for someone to feel lonely and lost,” he said.
“Parents have to navigate the multitude of sensory and comprehension issues their child experiences if they want to go out in the community.
“Disapproving frowns from shoppers who are full of advice on best way to parent are the usual barrage of ignorance they experience.
“For adults with autism, even those on the ‘high functioning’ end, the world around them is ready to call them weird or dysfunctional.
“They struggle to fit in and are often left trapped at home with no social circle or places they can participate in social options.”
But he says Autism Awareness Month is about more than educating the community.
“It is about tweaking our thinking to accept the differences and the possibilities that inclusion can bring,” he said.
“A parent who doesn’t feel like they are the only one out there who’s different will be able to engage in more community activities.”
The Autism Community Network organises social activities for children, but these also support parents.
Children participate in art and music therapy, fitness club and cooking, which build their social skills and confidence.
“Parents are able to meet others and they realise they too deal with similar issues,” Mr Drakoulis said.
“They get to use their combined knowledge and experiences as a community to share information and support each other.
“Our newest focus now is social support for adults.
“Our kids all grow up and there is next to nothing out there for adults.
“So many people, whether formally diagnosed or not, are forced to live lonely lives and that’s just not acceptable.”
Beverly Hills mother, Alison Leader, 39, has a son, 11, with autism.
He was diagnosed three years ago.
“He had behavioural issues, and we were concerned about his lack of compliance, lots of rigidity and not being comfortable with change,” she said.
“He would line up his trains in a row, and had little routines like categorising things in colours and shapes.
“We thought maybe he was a gifted but then realised it was something more.
“We also thought he was just a naughty child and that is was normal but he wasn’t improving.”
She says the support network helps to build awareness.
“It’s really helpful because I’m able to chat with other people going through the same thing,” she said.
“We’ve still got a way to go with community understanding.
“People often think you should be able to control your child better in public but they don’t realise that behind the behaviour is a big struggle because they’re dealing with sensory overload.”
