Autism Awareness Month

It’s Autism Awareness Month and this month we’re highlighting one of our incredible artists, Guy Conners. Guy is an artist with autism and will be running to raise money for The Arts of Life at the 6th Annual Christie Classic Illinois Marathon on April 26 in Champaign, Illinois. Check out his campaign- https://artsoflife.org/2014marathonOne of our wonderful community partners, Oak Wealth Advisors, has put together a great document based on interviews with families who are raising children with Autism. Check it out below! SPECIAL NEEDS ADVISORY For families with children with Autism From families with children with Autism TOP 10 RECOMMENDATIONS Do not underestimate the challenges of raising multiple children when one or more have Autism – only parents facing the task truly understand the difficulties Find a balance between doing “normal” activities with your Autistic child and therapies and treatments – the “normal” activities are good for you and for them Recognize that structure is your friend – summer is often the most challenging season because kids are not in school Utilize all local resources – many fantastic organizations and agencies exist but you have to ask around to find them Appreciate great baby sitters – finding one in the first place is very difficult Understand that the primary reason for vacations is relaxation – going to distant locations is often a tremendous challenge but local vacations can provide valuable respite Record everything related to your special needs child – documentation is critical for supporting your child’s current and future needs Think ahead as much as possible – it is easier to live day to day but you need to plan for the future Celebrate the little successes – everyone has successes and they should all be recognized regardless of their magnitude Share your experiences with others – networking with other parents facing similar challenges helps everyone who participates These recommendations come from meetings and discussions held with parents who are raising children with Autism. The information is provided solely as a reference and is not intended to replace counseling from qualified professionals. Please contact Mike Walther if you would like more information about Oak Wealth Advisors and our services for families with special needs members. 

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