Autism Spectrum Disorder: What We Know, What We Can Do, and Where to Find Support
— 4 min read —
By Dr Tiffany Lewis, wellbe social worker:
Hi friends. There’s a lot going on out there in the world, isn’t there? I know it’s a lot to take it and a lot to process. Let’s take a beat, gather our thoughts, and focus on what we know to be true.
What We Know
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how people communicate, interact socially and experience the world. It can involve differences in social communication, restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviour, and sensory sensitivities or interests. (Canadian Paediatric Society, 2019).
1 in 66 children in Canada are living with ASD. Autism is a lifelong condition and it is incredibly diverse. As the saying goes, if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.
Causes and Contributing Factors
There is no single cause of autism. Current research shows that genetics play the most significant role (Sandin et al., 2017)- which means a number of complex factors are established and are beyond anyone’s control. Most importantly, autism is not caused by parenting style, vaccines, or any single factor within a parent’s control.
When our son was diagnosed with Autism, we did genetic testing to see if there were other factors at play and if there was anything else we needed to know about his development and health. The results were what we thought they would be– no direct link between my husband or myself, no genetic link, no underlying cause. No mystery was uncovered.
The best interventions for our kiddos with ASD are early interventions
Community-based programming, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language supports, special education supports at school, and behavioural interventions are a few of the treatments that support the individual’s strengths and target areas of challenge.
For my family, as much as we wanted the answer - the reason - there wasn’t one. But what was ever-present was that our son has needs. And what he needs is support, love, tenderness, compassion, understanding, community, guidance, navigation, programming and safety. We are all deserving of safety.
Navigating Autism and the plethora of information (and sometimes, misinformation)
First, and foremost, take care of yourself. Being a parent of a child with autism can be physically and emotionally demanding. Remember the airplane/mask analogy? It applies here. We cannot adequately support our children if we are not taking care of ourselves. This may be a really great time to look into connecting with a therapist to talk through a lot of what you’re carrying every single day.
Next, rely on your most trusted and knowledgeable professionals. Evidence-based guidance from pediatricians, psychologists, therapists, and educators is invaluable. They bring expertise and can help interpret the overwhelming amount of information out there.
They will be instrumental in supporting families in vulnerable conversations where questions and concerns can be voiced with safety and trust.
Keep learning and doing your own research. Reading, attending workshops, and engaging with research helps us parents feel empowered and prepared.
The more knowledge - the more equipped we are to help our children thrive.
Build support systems. It takes a village to navigate autism and can feel like an isolating and lonely experience at times.
Often, other parents don’t always stop to chat at school drop-off, birthday party invitations may not always make it into our little one’s’ backpacks, and friends or family living a very neurotypical experience don’t always realize that we can’t just hop in the car or show up to a hang-out if it means breaking routine or leaving a comfort zone. And as a mama navigating this, I’ll be honest—those things can really hurt the heart.
But here’s another truth: We can build our community by adding to it. We can join support groups. We can chat with the parents at whatever occupational/behavioural/physio/music/swim/rebound therapy class we have our kiddos in. While we may face barriers, we can still try to find and connect with people who share similar experiences, even if we are sharing space with other neurodiverse children and families.
One of the most moving experiences we’ve had on this journey is watching our son be loved, cared for, and seen by the educators he has come in contact with whether through daycare, therapy, and school. Their impacts have been significant in both his life and ours.
And lastly (but definitely not least) do not blame yourself.
As parents (especially Moms) we already blame ourselves for everything. Blaming ourselves only throws us further into the pit of grief and it can be impossible to break free. We are needed and we are an important piece of what our children need to feel and be safe.
I know navigating autism isn’t an easy road, and I know it is not the journey we chose, but there is still so much beauty to be experienced.
And yes, it’s completely okay to step back from social media. While there’s great information online, there’s also misinformation and pressure that can make parents feel inadequate.
I’m here to tell you that you are doing enough, and you are doing the best you can.
Parenting and caregiving in the context of autism is not a straight path—it’s one filled with challenges, but also with moments of joy, connection, and deep love. While there may not always be clear answers, there is always room for compassion, community, and growth.
counselling + therapy
Mental health is an extremely important part of anyone’s wellbeing, which is why we have a team of registered psychotherapists, registered social workers and counsellors on hand for whatever support you or your family may need.
This post was written by Dr. Tiffany Lewis, wellbe social worker + psychotherapist. If you or your family are in need of support, you can book an in-person or virtual visit with our social workers here.
A note from wellbe
At wellbe, our therapists and practitioners work with both children and adults on the autism spectrum. We’re here to provide evidence-based support and a safe, compassionate space for families. If you’d like more information or to connect with our team, please reach out to us anytime.
References:
Canadian Paediatric Society. (2019). Autism Spectrum Disorder: Highlights from the 2019 Canadian Paediatric Society Statement.
Zeidan, J., et al. (2022). Global prevalence of autism: A systematic review update. Autism Research, 15(5), 778–790.