Geneva Preschool hosts an outdoor meetup on their playground for neurodivergent kids. I haven't been but I love the idea of it.

Anonymous wrote:Does ANYONE who has a kid with "mild" Autism or "HFA" really feel like their kids are "mild" or "high functioning?" Why do we keep perpetuating these labels? They are so invalidating. As a parent, I feel like it's our problem and we have to stop perpetuating ableism. It is so much easier to say my kid is "mild," or "high functioning" or "on the spectrum" than to say they are Autistic, as if that is a dirty word. I was guilty of it myself, but now that I know better I do better.

I don't like the use of "mild" but I feel like it is disrespectful or even delusional for me to think I am facing the same parenting challenges as the mom of non-potty-trained, non-verbal 16 year old. Are both our kids autistic? Sure, but what does that even mean?

Anonymous wrote:Does ANYONE who has a kid with "mild" Autism or "HFA" really feel like their kids are "mild" or "high functioning?" Why do we keep perpetuating these labels? They are so invalidating. As a parent, I feel like it's our problem and we have to stop perpetuating ableism. It is so much easier to say my kid is "mild," or "high functioning" or "on the spectrum" than to say they are Autistic, as if that is a dirty word. I was guilty of it myself, but now that I know better I do better.

Having met both types, there are significant differences in severity.

Isn’t ableism a new protestor/ activist word to use when accusing someone else of discriminating against others “who are not able?”

That word needs to go. It’s misused and not going help people get the help they need to function better. It’s a word used to shut down any discussion.

Anonymous wrote:Does ANYONE who has a kid with "mild" Autism or "HFA" really feel like their kids are "mild" or "high functioning?" Why do we keep perpetuating these labels? They are so invalidating. As a parent, I feel like it's our problem and we have to stop perpetuating ableism. It is so much easier to say my kid is "mild," or "high functioning" or "on the spectrum" than to say they are Autistic, as if that is a dirty word. I was guilty of it myself, but now that I know better I do better.

I think it gets the point across that with aspergers/ HFA/ ASD level 1 you are dealing with someone with an Invisibility Disability. Yes they have consistent deficiencies within executive functioning, social understandings, and verbal communication but they can mask when they want to or have the energy to. They may even have some hyper focuses.

In contrast, ASD level 2 and 3 is visible. Speech and mannerisms are not typical, learning functionability not the same, and they may need 24/7 monitoring so they don’t hurt themselves or others, on accident.

All levels need support and understanding, in different ways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are various parents groups (xminds in moco) where parents can meet. From there you can arrange get togethers.

Or just do what we did and find families in waiting rooms.

That’s the best part of kid therapy!

There is not more waiting rooms. We wait outside in the parking lot.

DC completely refuses to get out of the car and go into the building so we've been stuck outside in the parking lot since before the pandemic

I’m in Northern Virginia, and my daughter is almost 6. I would LOVE this for me. It might be hard for her, though. New people are hard for her.

I am in MoCo, where is that xminds group? I have a boy, almost 7 year old. It is fall season with nice weather, many great reasons to meetup now than the cold winter. I have been taking him to fall festivals and playground these few weeks.

Anyone aware of meetups in NOVA for HFA kids? Son is 9. Thanks

Does ANYONE who has a kid with "mild" Autism or "HFA" really feel like their kids are "mild" or "high functioning?" Why do we keep perpetuating these labels? They are so invalidating. As a parent, I feel like it's our problem and we have to stop perpetuating ableism. It is so much easier to say my kid is "mild," or "high functioning" or "on the spectrum" than to say they are Autistic, as if that is a dirty word. I was guilty of it myself, but now that I know better I do better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are various parents groups (xminds in moco) where parents can meet. From there you can arrange get togethers.

Or just do what we did and find families in waiting rooms.

That’s the best part of kid therapy!

There is not more waiting rooms. We wait outside in the parking lot.

Anonymous wrote:There are various parents groups (xminds in moco) where parents can meet. From there you can arrange get togethers.

Or just do what we did and find families in waiting rooms.

That’s the best part of kid therapy!

There are various parents groups (xminds in moco) where parents can meet. From there you can arrange get togethers.

Or just do what we did and find families in waiting rooms.

I am also very interested in connecting with other parents in a similar situation.

Hi. I would really love to meet other parents of kids with HFA. Is there such a group?