"Living the Autism Maze"
Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorders Blog

From Adelle Tilton, Your Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Stay up to date!

October 22, 2005

"Living the Autism Maze"
That sounds like a place I am familiar with! I wandered around through that maze, at times wondering if anyone had any clue at all to what was going on within my son's mind. And I have often thought about how few people, outside of the autism community, really understand how isolated most parents feel when their child has autism. In Vermont a film was recently shown that explains what parents go through as they seek treatment and therapy for their child. The film, "Living the Autism Maze," clearly illustrates the conflict within the medical profession; physicians seem unsure of how to treat children with autism.
The film was inspired by the son of a co-creator of "Living the Autism Maze." Nicholas is a nine year-old boy with autism and his parents learned first hand that there are no pat answers - there is not a concensus of opinion regarding cause, treatment or prognosis. Nicholas's parents are worried too. They worry about what is ahead for their son. "We're all terribly frightened for the future, for our kid's future," Nicholas's dad commented. The film also explores the various functioning levels on the autism spectrum. For some children, the simplest goals are the largest achievements. The expense of raising a child on the autism spectrum is also addressed in "Living the Autism Maze," which is, of course, a major concern for parents.
GOOD NEWS FOR PARENTS
You do NOT have to be in Vermont to see this film. It is available online in DVD and VHS formats. The price is incredibly reasonable. Think ahead when you buy your copy - this would be a wonderful gift for extended family members that are having a problem understanding what autism is and what exactly it means to your life.