I met with a parent the other day who said that she feels very alone and isolated. Her son was diagnosed with Autism about 6 years ago and life has been quite challenging for her family ever since.
The family has good in home support and her son goes to school, but the one thing that is missing in her life is friendship. This particular mom does not drive and she doesn’t live on a major bus route, thereby adding to her trap.
Friendship is not usually a topic of conversation between service providers and families. Is asking about friendship considered to be too personal of a question?
I know from experience, and so do most parents that have children with a disability, that feeling alone and isolated is one of the biggest challenges we face.
When Eric was very young I remember feeling so alone and saying that I wished we all still lived in small villages and that women didn’t work, all because I wanted to be around people and wanted lots of people around me.
We know that friendship is important for all of us. What kinds of things can we provide to parents or what suggestions can we offer that may generate more opportunities for friendships?
Parents in our situation can often feel trapped and see no way out.
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