Succeeding = Getting Out of Alabama
To a State with Better Resources & Help for My Son! ​
Parenting a Child with Autism
Date: July 30, 2017
​
It all began, when I realized that my son was not responding to sound and the frequent appointments began. But life would change for us all in 2003, where the diagnosis of Autism & Epilepsy would rock us to the core. Each doctor’s visit was physically and emotionally exhausting for not only my son, but his older brother, myself, and whomever provided transportation to his appointments at the time. Hearing the doctor say all that he would never be able to do, shook every part of me leaving me hoping and praying that I would be awakened from a dream. For seven and a half years he faced many challenges due to being non-verbal and he was nowhere near potty trained due to the cognitive delays. As a single parent at the time, I learned early on that raising a child with Autism was not a walk it the park; it was a daily challenge and by far one of the most difficult times in my life. I lacked knowledge in how to effectively care for my son; therefore, educating myself was a must. But nothing would prepare us for the frequent meltdowns caused by sensory overloads. Wait, what did this new word even mean? Sensory overloads occur when one or more of the body's senses experience over-stimulation from the environment. Therefore, adjusting things became a part of our daily routines as it is for many parent today.
Early intervention kind of prepared us for Kindergarten; however, it didn’t prepare us for my son being placed in Special Education sheltered away from his non-disabled peers. I was unfamiliar with the process of an Individual Education Program (IEP) meeting that would be designed for my son to receive the proper education he deserved. I later enrolled into Troy University to major in Collaborative Education known as (Special Education) to become more knowledgeable of what an IEP consisted of. During this time, I became aware of the process of an IEP, understanding my parental rights, as well as my son’s rights to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). I quickly realized that a lack of knowledge in these areas could be a recipe for a good education or a disaster by him simply being slipped through the system undetected without the proper education he deserved. We were met with many disagreements for my son to be placed in general education classes with his non-disabled peers, until I discovered the law for inclusion. It wasn’t easy, but our request would soon be met.
We thought the challenges would soon end, but we quickly realized that the real world had more waiting. We experienced the judgmental stares by onlookers who had absolutely no clue what was going on because my son had no physical signs of a disability in which I call a (different ability). Hearing the gut wrenching words, “She needs to get her child together; let me take him home for one night and she will never have to deal with that again truly pierced through my soul and then the grieving process began, but I refused to hide my son behind four walls to run from the judgmental stares and opinions of others.
It broke my heart as I watched other parents become frustrated because their child talked too much, when all I wanted was for my son to speak. It appeared that they took for granted the one thing many parents pray for daily. Granted I had many questions. God why did you allow this to happen to my son? I even began blaming myself as many parents do. I wondered if I ate the wrong thing or if I didn’t pray hard enough. I needed to know how to help him and I realized faith was the biggest solution. Because of faith, I knew my son would one day overcome every obstacle that was set before him. He said his first word when he was almost eight, became potty trained, and came off of all medications during that time. He is now seventeen and a Junior in high school taking life one day at a time. Faith made him whole because I refused to accept a diagnosis by man and ignore the Power of God.
Signed a Proud Mother of a Child with Autism,
Mrs. Lakisha G. Louissaint
Learning to Read!
lol: I feel so hot! Watch the video to understand!
Miracles still happen!
Miracles Still Happen​
​
Luke 18: 27 Jesus answered, "God can do things that are not possible for people to do." (NCV)
​
Are you searching for a miracle for your child today? Well, I am too. As parents, we are taught by some doctors everything our children will never do. We are brainwashed into believing the diagnosis instead of the Power of God. We are convinced that if the chemicals in the brain are manipulated, our children can be healed. We have almost been convinced that “The Doctor” Jesus is not a healer. On today, I encourage you to speak life into your child. Began saying what they can do instead of what they can’t. Even if you don’t see it happen immediately, trust that God will not fail. My son was non-verbal for the first seven and a half years of his life, but I continued to trust God. At almost eight, he began doing everything doctors said he wouldn’t do. My son received a miracle.
​
Prayer for Today: God, thank you for miracles. I know that by Your stripes, my child is healed. Show me small miracles on today. Please help my unbelief. In Jesus name, Amen.