In January, I have been asked to do a speaking engagement to a support group of parents of autistic children. This subject is very near to my heart since I have a family member who is autistic. What I’ve learned about autistic children is they need to have more than other children, routine and structure. Don’t handle change to easily and therefore have a difficult time transitioning from one activity to the next. Add to that, they also experience sensory overload and get overwhelmed when their environment is too stimulated with things like loud noises. Some autistic children are more higher functioning then others but the bottom line is having an organized environment is crucial to their daily well being.
I watched an episode of Extreme Home Makeover the other day with a friend. This family had two parents who were both deaf and a son who was not only autistic but blind. Their oldest son was the only one without any disabilities and he was the rock for the family, helping in every way he could. I truly don’t remember crying as hard as I did since I saw the Notebook over the love this family had for each other. Their light absolutely radiated from them. And watching the town rally for them gives me goose bumps to even think about it. It also helped me to understand even more what my family member goes through on a daily basis and it truly broke my heart.
I can imagine that a parent who is typically disorganized and un-structured will be forced into becoming organized and structured for the sake of their children. That can prove very challenging for those that have never lived there lives that way. But getting organized doesn’t have to be a gigantic project that all has to be tackled right away. In fact, I would bet that, since autistic children don’t handle change well, it would be a better idea to take the project in phases. As a professional organizer, that is how I encourage my clients to handle their clutter anyway. In phases. The mistake a lot of people make when it comes to deciding to tackle their clutter is they don’t break it down into manageable pieces, accurately estimate how long it will take, actually put it down on their calendar as an actual appointment, and put measures in place to hold themselves accountable during the process. This is where hiring a professional can help. We are able to be realistic with your situation and help you handle what can be realistically done in a realistic time frame with your realistic abilities.
If you are a parent of an autistic child, I hope you have put getting organized at the top of your list. Visit the how to videos on my website and make sure you watch my video on S.P.A.C.E. the methodology I use to organize anyone’s home. By getting your home organized, you will not only have made your ability to manage your life easier, but managing your child’s life, autistic or not, easier as well.