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9614 Autism, Special Needs and the Grandparent Connection: The Role of a Lifetime


Saturday, July 15, 2017: 8:30 AM-9:45 AM
Room: 102D (Wisconsin Center )
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Do you yearn to connect and build a relationship with your grandchild with autism? Do you want to help but you are not sure how? Learn the mindsets and tools needed to contribute to the emotional and physical well -being of your grandchild, your family and yourself!
Based on

You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. Jim Rohn

The Role of Grandparents

Offer roots to a child - a past and a future

Connect history with the present

Offer the emotional security that builds confidence and self -worth.

Role models of faith, persistence and tenacity

Ways to Help:

You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. Jim Rohn

The Role of Grandparents

Offer roots to a child - a past and a future

Connect history with the present

Can be a “soft spot to land” for siblings when things at home are too much

Offer the emotional security that builds confidence and self -worth.

Role models of faith, persistence and tenacity

How can you Help?

1.Affirm and Love

Your adult and your grandchild - Listening to what is said and what is not said by adult children

Accepting your grandchild “as is”

Keep the diagnosis in perspective

2. Maintain optimism

Choose to model authentic hope, tenacity and persistence

3. Choose to grow personally- Growth mindset versus fixed mindset (The work of Carol Dweck)

4. Choose to be a student of autism - Doing your research and homework on the disability (choosing the right sources)

Be an astute observer of your grandchild

Understanding ‘behavior” and how to cope with problems appropriately

5. Give the gift of time- Provide your children with respite opportunities

Spend time with the siblings of the exceptional child

Read and play with your grandchild

Share special Interests

Long distance connecting

What does NOT Help?

Blame, shame and rejection- Ignoring attempts to explain the diagnosis and behavior- Dismissing the explanation provided by parents or doctors

Emotional and/or physical distance - Playing non-interference: “We do not want to meddle.”

Insistence on some types of discipline methods – spanking, yelling, fear and authoritative means

Overstepping boundaries – parental decisions, insisting on certain treatments or therapy

In an effort to gain a wide and objective perspective of the role of grandparents, while writing my third book, Autism and the Grandparents Connection, I collected 50 surveys from parents and grandparents from in Canada, the United States and other parts of the world. People have openly shared their stories and experiences about coming to terms with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The ideas expressed in the book (and subsequently in the presentation) come from my own experience and more importantly, from the experiences of all of those who contributed.


Learning Objectives:

  • Develop or deepen a relationship with your grandchild with autism, even if he or she lives far away.
  • Identify 5 practical ways that grandparents can help their grandchildren and their adult children to navigate this journey.
  • Discover 5 specific ways that they can be unhelpful or counterproductive in their relationships.

Track: Life Stage 1 - Birth to 5

Content Area: Self-Identity and Acceptance

Presenter:

Jennifer Krumins, MEd
Autism Aspirations

A passionate international speaker, educator and author, Jennifer is, most importantly, a mother of an adult son with autism. In her humorous, down to earth style, Jennifer will be sure to boost your competence and confidence in navigating autism and rejuvenate you for the journey.