Parents, what should you do if you suspect that your child may be on the autism spectrum? How do you get a diagnosis? And what’s next if you do get an autism diagnosis? Jessica Daley, the mother of a now 6-year old son who has been diagnosed with autism, joins Dr. Meg in a conversation where she vulnerably and honestly shares both the struggles and joys from her journey as a parent of an autistic child.
From suspecting something was different with her son early on when he was a toddler, to researching on her own and approaching her son’s pediatrician with questions and concerns, to a formal diagnosis of autism, guest Jessica Daley has been on an unexpected journey that many parents may also find themselves facing. Jessica explains the importance of having a good pediatrician, as she shares, “Pediatricians hold the key and open the door for parents to get the resources and tools that are needed to support our children with autism, so having a pediatrician that you trust, that you feel supported by, who cares about you and your child, is vitally important to the autism journey.” Jessica further describes her son’s individual needs, which have included speech therapy, occupational therapy and even physical therapy at times, as well as what she anticipates that life will be like going forward, as her son continues to grow throughout childhood and into adulthood. Listen in as Jessica and Dr. Meeker discuss the complexities (and victories!) of supporting a child with autism – shared from the engaging viewpoints of both a parent and a pediatrician.
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