HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, N.L. — A support group in Happy Valley-Goose Bay has quickly become a comfortable and confidential place for families affected by autism to share their challenges as well as their triumphs.
Darrelle Morris’s son Stewart, who is now five years old, was diagnosed with autism almost a year ago.
After the diagnosis, Morris went looking for a support group where she could get together with parents facing similar issues.
“I wanted to get to know how things unfolded after a new diagnosis but there was nothing,” she said of peer-to-peer support in her area.
Morris began speaking to other parents and took to social media to see if there were others interested in forming a support group.
The interest was certainly there, she said.
The group, which was started earlier this fall, meets every Monday evening at 7 p.m. in the former gospel hall building next to the Salvation Army Church on Churchill Street.
The group is open to parents and families of autistic children, teens, and adults.
The number in attendance varies from week-to-week and could range from just a few to over a dozen people.
Attending the support group is an opportunity to talk about what’s best for the child or adult who has autism, Morris said.
“We understand the different celebrations that not everyone would understand. And we talk about therapy options and the different things that would work for different children and any obstacles we are faced with,” she said during a recent phone interview.
To her, the group has been a “godsend”.
“We are all learning as we go ... knowing the challenges that we all have are normal, and to have a second opinion on things, is good.”
Morris said the occupational therapist, dietitian, home support workers, and social workers in the area are wonderful. However, there are challenges with not having a full-time pediatrician and easier access to a child psychologist, she said.
Sometime in the future, Morris said, members of the group hope to meet with local businesses and community groups to help them make their environments more inclusive.
While the provincial autism society has a Facebook group (Autism Society, Newfoundland and Labrador) Morris has also set up a group-specific to families in Labrador (Autism Support Labrador).
“We post in the Facebook group almost every day. People can request to join the group.”
Those joining the Facebook group can also get more information about the support group. Morris encourages people to attend a support group meeting to see if it’s something that could help them.
“It’s very non-judgemental. It’s a safe place and nothing that’s discussed goes outside the group.”
'A secret language'
Miranda Coldwell of North West River is a member of the support group. Her four-year-old son, Keegan, has autism.
“When you have a child who receives a diagnosis of autism, suddenly you speak a whole new, secret language. Sometimes, you feel like you're alone because your friends and family don't speak this language,” Coldwell said via e-mail.
The support group is like finding a group of people who know the language and finally you can talk and listen to everyone's experiences, she said.
It’s a place where you can compare stories, she said, and talk about struggles to people who are going through the same thing.
“These people have become my family. I love their kids and they love mine. We celebrate every child's accomplishments as if it was our own child that achieved it. We talk about our child’s quirks and celebrate the unique people that they are,” Coldwell said.
Did you know
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people and how they experience the world around them.
• People with autism see, hear and feel the world differently than other people. Individuals do not outgrow their diagnosis, however; many therapies and interventions have a proven
ability to improve outcomes.
• Autism is a spectrum condition that presents differently in every individual with a diagnosis but there are similar behaviours and characteristics that those on the spectrum
may express to varying degrees.
• ASD is often described in terms of difficulties, deficits and challenges. It is just as important to acknowledge, the many strengths and abilities of individuals on the
spectrum. Once realized, these can be used to promote development and plan for the future.
Source: Autism Society, Newfoundland and Labrador www.autism.nf.net
