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Parenting Beyond Words

@autism_chapters

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Sharing our autism journey the real, the hard & the growth. Mum to a minimally speaking son who loves to cook & his 2 siblings.
Advocacy & Healing
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When you're raising an autistic child alongside their siblings, you become so aware of how much family life can revolve around one child's needs.

And while those needs are being met, you think about the others too. Their needs, their experiences, their opportunities, the things they've had to adapt to and the moments that might have looked different for them.

You try to create those extra moments, make room for their interests, give them your time and make sure they know they're just as important.

But I think there's a guilt that comes with always wondering if it's enough.

I don't have a perfect balance figured out. It's something I'm constantly navigating, learning and adjusting as our children grow.

If this is you, I see you & feel you 🤍

#autismparenting #autismsiblings #autismsupport #raisingkids #autismfamily by @autism_chapters

His speech has come a long way, and I've reacted much like you see in this reel to so many of the words and sentences he's shared over the years. Some I've never heard again, but I remember every single one.

What I longed for when he was four, or eight, is still what I long for now. I want to know what's going on in his head. What he's thinking about, what makes him happy, what he's feeling, what he wants to tell me about his day.

There's often so much more happening behind what you see. The work, the unknowns, the vulnerability, the little wins that might seem ordinary to someone else but mean the world to a family.

And when families choose to share these moments, I hope they feel seen, encouraged and understood.

🫶

#autismcommunication #minimallyspeaking #aaccommunication #autismparenting #autism by @autism_chapters

It's not always easy. It won't always go to plan, and not every opportunity will land the way we hoped.

But we can keep looking for ways to create these moments, make adjustments and give our children the chance to be involved.

And this responsibility doesn't sit with parents alone. It takes schools, communities and society to create environments where children with autism and additional needs are welcomed, supported and given opportunities to participate.

Because inclusion shouldn't just happen at home. It should be part of everyday life, wherever our children go 🤍

#autisminclusion #inclusiveeducation #autism #additionalneedskids #inclusivecommunities by @autism_chapters

Toilet training can feel like a big step, especially when communication is difficult and you're not sure where to begin.

Im sharing our journey with toileting, it was an overwhelming time, up and down & there were plenty of accidents along the way, but we kept building on the little steps.

Here’s what helped us:

1. Visuals to make sense of the routine

Before AAC, we relied on low-tech visuals. His therapist created these visual sequences showing each step of toileting. We put the visuals in the toilet and used Velcro, removing each step as he completed it. This helped him see what he needed to do and what came next. It took alot of time and practise for him to get the hang of it.

2. Making the toilet a comfortable space

Our therapist initially worked with him at home. We started with sitting on the toilet for even a minute at a time, using some of his favourite toys to encourage him to stay.

3. Practising the little skills

Getting on and off the toilet, pulling his pants up and down, and washing and drying his hands were all things we practised along the way.

4. Creating a routine at home

We introduced toilet visits every 30 minutes, giving him regular opportunities to practise.

5. Continuing the practice at daycare

His therapist also worked with him there each week. We were asked to send him in underpants for a period of time, without nappies, so he could practise there each day too.

I'm sharing this because I know some families might be at the beginning of this journey, wondering what to try or where to start.

Every child is different, and this is simply what our journey looked like. Sometimes hearing another family's experience can help us feel a little less alone.

Where are you in the journey? What has or hasn't worked for your child? Share your tips that may help another family too 🤍

#autismparenting #toilettraining #visualsupports #nonspeaking #nonspeakingautism by @autism_chapters

Without all the expectations, the pressure and the constant rush to be more or do more… for our kids, for ourselves.

Especially when the journey looks different to what we imagined, the milestones, the timelines and the little things that mean so much look different for us.

Maybe it's about making room for a life that feels good, not just one that looks good to everyone else.

🤍

#selfcare #raisingkids #autismhealing #autismparenting #parentingjourney by @autism_chapters

Mr N's Cooking Diaries - Nutella Pancakes Take 2

Presuming competence means recognising that our autistic children may be processing, learning and reflecting in ways we don't always see. There's more to communication and understanding than what meets the eye.

🤍

#cookingram #presumecompetence #autismjourney #autismfamily #cookingwithkids by @autism_chapters

Mr N’s Cooking Diaries
Red Pesto Chicken & Spinach Spaghetti

#autismjourney #autismparentingsupport #cookingwithautism #autism #cookingwithkids by @autism_chapters

The reality is, it wasn't always like this. And there's still more we need to figure out.

We'll need to look further into what's bothering him with his teeth, and I know we'll need a more supportive setting moving forward.

But in that moment, none of that mattered.

I wasn't thinking about what might come next, what we'd need to put in place, or what still needed to be figured out.

I was just watching him.

And for a little while, that was enough. 🤍

#autismjourney #autismparenting #autismsupport #autism #parentinglife by @autism_chapters

During conversations, I've heard the word “normal” used so many times when talking about differences.

And whilst there's often no ill intent behind it, I think it's something worth reflecting on.

Because when we're trying to describe how someone is different, why do we need to label the other side as “normal”?

It's a small word, often used without a second thought. But the language we use shapes how we see people, and how we teach others to see them too.

🫶

#autismawarenes #autismjourney #inclusivelanguage #autismadvocate #autismfamilies by @autism_chapters

#autismchapters #healingjourney #autismmum #autismfamilies #autism by @autism_chapters

#autismjourney #nonspeakingautism #autismspeaks #autism #communication by @autism_chapters

🍳 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗲.
A cooking reel captures a few seconds. What it can't always show is the patience, flexibility, and little decisions that happen around those moments.
Sometimes it's about giving a child space to take the lead. Sometimes it's knowing when to offer support, when to pause, or when to simply enjoy being together.

✨ 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲.

This carousel grew out of conversations with Mr N's mum at @autism_chapters. We wanted to create something that felt like their story, not a checklist of what every family should be doing.

🤍 Thank you for sharing these moments with us and trusting us to bring a little piece of Mr N's Cooking Diaries to life through illustration.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

#AutismParenting #AutismAcceptance #NeurodiversityAffirming #EverydayLearning #LifeSkillsForKids by @autism_chapters