Good morning, everyone. I have my French Vanilla cup of coffee right here. Waiting on you. @gingerw, @lisalucier, let's get together here soon for a little conversation.

Hello everyone. You have checked into Mayo Clinic Connect because you have some questions about the Autism Spectrum .

You might have been diagnosed recently yourself. Perhaps you have a Grandchild who has been labeled as being on the Spectrum somewhere. Maybe you just want to get a handle on what you might expect as he/she is evaluated further, because you are supportive like that. You love your Grandchild fiercely. You are a Mama Bear who won't let anything get in the way of your Grand's. good health and well being.

You might be that Father, all 150 pounds of you, muscle and bone and ready to do battle for your offspring against any who would attempt to come against you and your little family. When the doctor told you "We think he might be on the Autism Spectrum" you shut your eyes for a second, clenched your teeth, letting one small tear run down your face. Then you smiled, looked at the doctor, and said "So what do we do now?"

And here you are. You are not alone. We are volunteers here, Mayo Clinic Connect volunteers. Some of us are Actually Autistic and are living proof of the power of praying and believing families. Faith in the strength of loving families to do the next right thing. Take that next step.

Don't put your trust and faith in numbers, tests, IQ scores, or dire proclamations of what your baby can and cannot do. You and your family are much greater than that. They can be very helpful in school placement. But give it a bit of leeway. Numbers can change over time.

There are tons of books and programs out there. If you are not fond of reading, get audio books where you can. But these books will be very helpful to you. Most of them address common behaviors and situations you will want to address as you raise this precious child. Avoid the ones who guarantee a cure. Run the opposite direction from any support group who promises a "cure." You don't want a cure. Autism is not a disease. It is a different wiring system. There is Neurotypical and Neurodiverse. Would you want a cure for Thomas Edison, Mozart, Einstein, Temple Grandin? I don't want a cure for my Autistic self. I want to understand all the things that make me who I am. I want to focus on my strengths and move forward.

That is a lot of information to take in. Don't let any of it overwhelm you. You are not alone. We are better together. As we go along, from time to time , we will mention books that have impacted the Autistic community. Samantha Craft, a good friend of mine, has written Everyday Aspergers. You might want to start there.

Come join us. The coffee is always on here. And we can whip up a nice cup of tea if that is your preference. You are welcome here. We've saved a place at the table just for you.
Love and light,
Mamacita Jane