April is halfway over and with it, World Autism Month. Soon, it’ll be May – which also happens to be National Foster Care Month.
There is an unfortunate connection between autism and foster care: Children with autism are 2.4 times more likely to enter foster care than neurotypical children. There, they often wait longer for adoption than neurotypical foster children.
There are many reasons why these children may enter foster care, but some common reasons include:
- A child’s parents may not know much about autism, or how to raise a child with autism. They may struggle to recognize the signs, manage their child’s behaviors, or help their child cope with his or her unique obstacles.
- A child’s parents may not have the resources to give their child the support they need — they may not have the financial resources for professional help, they may not live in an area that has the services their child requires, or they may not have access to basic care.
- The stress of raising a child with autism may be too much for some parents, particularly if they’re already under physical, mental, emotional, or financial strain.
Without consistent caretakers who can recognize the signs of autism and provide appropriate care, children may not receive the early and ongoing support they need to thrive. So, here are 3 things you can do to help children with autism:
1. Take Steps to Prevent Children with Autism from Entering Foster Care
The most important way to support foster children with autism is also possibly the hardest: Prevent them from entering state custody in the first place.
How can we do this? There are a lot of possible steps that can be taken to reduce the number of children entering foster care, but funding and advocating for better access to professional services is a good place to start. Children and adults with autism often require special doctors, therapies, educators, coaches, and more. Their parents will require services, too – they may need access to respite care, for one.
Unfortunately, these services aren’t always accessible for parents raising children with autism. They can be expensive, and they may not exist in the immediate area at all.
Here’s what you can do to help:
Donate to autism organizations, or organize a fundraiser to benefit these organizations. Many of these organizations are working to provide affordable and accessible autism care to families who need it most.
But, even with better access to specialized care a child’s entry into the foster care system can’t always be prevented if his or her parents are simply facing too many challenges. So, what can you do to support children with autism who are already in state custody?
2. Consider Fostering or Adopting a Child with Autism
Before you take this step, please be sure that you:
- Have met the requirements to become a foster or adoptive parent, including a home study.
- Have undergone training as a foster parent.
- Have undergone autism training through your foster care provider.
The Special Needs Alliance has information for parents considering adopting a child with special needs, which we encourage you to read here.
Because these foster children have specific needs, it’s important to understand the scope of those needs before you commit to fostering or adopting a child with autism. Many loving families have hearts big enough to welcome a new child, but they must also have the education and resources that a child with autism may need. You will likely need autism-specific training before you move forward.
Remember: No two children with autism will show the same behaviors or have the same needs. Autism is a broad and varied spectrum! You’ll need to be ready to support a child in all their uniqueness.
However, if you think you are able and ready to welcome a child with autism, fostering or adopting these children can be the best way to ensure their future is a bright one. Consistent, competent, loving, and patient parents can make a world of difference for anyone, but especially for a person with autism. You could be that love and support for someone!
Here’s what you can do to help:
Reach out to your state’s foster care department now to learn more about fostering or adopting a child with autism.
3. Raise Awareness
As we conclude World Autism Month this April and look to National Foster Care Month in May, we’re reminded that it’s important to educate others about:
- Some of the early developmental signs that may point to autism, in addition to when parents should consult a doctor or seek out appropriate support resources.
- Efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding autism, and to uplift people with autism in our communities.
- The need for accessible and equitable autism resources throughout the U.S., and better support for parents whose children are at-risk of entering foster care.
- The prevalence of children with autism already in foster care, and the pressing need for foster and adoptive families who are ready and able to care for a child with autism.
Here’s what you can do to help:
Spread this awareness and education by sharing this article right now, or by sharing information and graphics from Autism Speaks!