Growing up can be tough, and every child needs a steady support system to make the journey a little easier.
As a part of that system, grandparents are there to comfort their grandchildren, help nurture, love and maybe even spoil them a little.
When a child is diagnosed with autism, family support is needed more than ever, and grandparents can play a crucial role as support for both the child and parents.
Autism is usually noticed before a child reaches 3 years old. These children exhibit delayed speech and language skills, hearing sensitivity, prefer solitude, have an inability to understand feelings, have unusual reactions and flap their hands, rock their body or spin in circles. Autism is considered a spectrum disorder. Children diagnosed with high-functioning autism show mild symptoms. However, those diagnosed with severe autism will have significant language delays and behavioral and social problems.
Because of the spectrum, autism is hard to understand by those who are not affected by the disorder.
With the symptoms of autism, bonding with a child diagnosed with the disorder would seem difficult. However, several local grandparents of the Greenwood-Leflore Autism Spectrum Society (GLASS) say that’s not the case.
Mary Moore said that her grandson Rye Haddon, 6, is never difficult to babysit even though Rye does have setbacks in his speech.
“He’s like the rest of my grandchildren; the only difference is we make sure he always has something to eat and drink. If he doesn’t want it, he’ll push it away.”
Moore said Rye’ speech has progressed, but she never let the language barrier interfere with their relationship.
“A few extra steps are needed to be a grandparent to a child diagnosed with autism, but it is so worth it,” Moore said.
Mamie Lewis feels similar about her granddaughter Madison Lewis, 10.
“She’ll stay with me, and it’s not a big difference from my other grandchildren. She likes helping out her granny,” Lewis said. “I’ll take her to church with me; as long as she has something to keep her occupied, she is well-behaved.”
Lewis said that her granddaughter was very withdrawn socially when she was first diagnosed with autism. However, with the help of a strong support system, Madison is thriving.
“She’s a cheerleader. She went to Disney World in Florida for a cheerleading competition and won first place. She got a trophy and jacket. She is also a very good student.”
With doctor visits, therapy sessions and school, being a parent to an autistic child can be overwhelming. Grandparents can help alleviate some of the stress that busy mothers and fathers experience.
Terrell and Peggy Cobb helped out by taking their grandson Russell Cobb, 15, to his occupational therapy sessions in Cleveland.
“We learned from those trips his favorite food was chicken nuggets,” Terrell said.
At first Russell hated his therapy sessions. Terrell and Peggy were able to turn them into a fun outing.
“When he was finished with each session, he was so happy. He knew he would have some chicken nuggets, listen to his favorite kid’s songs on the way home and most importantly he would soon see Momma and Daddy,” Peggy said.
Betty Williams takes her grandson Jeremy Williams, 22, to his language arts, spelling, math and reading classes that he takes at Mississippi Delta Community College’s Greenwood campus.
Williams has been a part of her grandson’s support system, helping out and accompanying his mother to doctor visits since he was 3 months old.
“It takes a lot of love and patience to be a grandparent to a child with autism,” Williams said.
With strong support, Jeremy has exceeded the doctors’ exceptions.
Grandparents and grandchildren have a close connection. This helps many autistic children. They expand their social circles by including their grandparents, which is a difficult task for them.
This opens the door to forming new relationships and helps the child overcome some of the behavioral and social difficulties that autistic children face.
These grandparents and other participants will be at the Leflore County Agri-Center Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the annual Autism Awareness Celebration held by GLASS.
The event will feature an autism walk, which is $10 per person. There will also be a children’s walk, food, games, a health fair and autism information booths.
For more information or to register early for the walk, call Kassie Carter at 455-4393 or Miranda Hodge at 453-3848.
