Parenting is anything but easy. But it’s especially difficult parenting a child with autism.
Autism is a mental condition that makes communicating, forming relationships, using language and abstract concepts particularly difficult for an individual. Autism has many different presentations, ranging from nonverbal communication to heightened intelligence.
Asperger’s Syndrome is a form of "high functioning" autism characterized by difficulty in social interactions and repetitive behaviors. Tracy Boone, a Ridgeland parent, came face to face with autism when her son Kevin was diagnosed with Asperger’s when he was 11 years old.
Boone’s family has learned to accommodate and improvise for her son. But adjusting and learning about Asperger’s was not easy, she said.
That’s why Boone is hosting a gathering, Saturday, July 1 at the Jasper County Farmers’ Market on Jacob Smart Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The public is invited to learn about Asperger’s, autism, and strategies for parents, kids and those dealing with autism. The event features vendors, games and an opportunity to win a desktop computer.
"I do work with a couple of other families, but their children are autistic," said Boone. "Some parents don’t want other people to know; they may be ashamed and they feel like the school district is doing all they can. But we have seen that, this year, that was not the case. I’m able to work around my son and I have a part-time job, but before I even got balanced with my part-time job, I was having trouble trying to keep a job and accommodate him while he was at school."
Boone is happy to be able to balance work and her son, but it’s not as easy for other parents of autistic children. Because autism affects an individual’s ability to communicate and therefore socialize, autistic kids are subject to erratic behavior, outbursts and bullying. Boone noted she has had to pick her son up from school unexpectedly in the past and that is a reality for many parents of autistic children.
Boone said one of the things that’s helped her relate to her son was noticing similar personality traits between them. She said her and her son sometimes deal with anxiety. That similarity between the two of them helps her to understand and relate to her son.
"By me understanding him, I am more receptive to Asperger’s," said Boone. "That’s what I want other people to understand, there’s nothing wrong, they’re not mentally crazy – though it may feel like that at the moment – but it’s (Asperger’s) more of a social issue trying to fit in, picking up on facial and social cues, little things like that."
Her experience being a parent of a child with Asperger’s led her to be an advocate and a supporter for parents and children in Jasper County dealing with autism. At her event, she hopes to talk with other parents about starting an after-school care program.
"The thing with Asperger’s is that they (kids) are all different, they deal with it, but all of them have individual traits they pick up between ADHD and autism," Boone said.
For more information, call Boone at 843-717-9995.