Coping with autism: how the right support can make the world of difference to sufferers, parents
- A better understanding by others of the nature of autism would help people with the condition and their care-givers, whose family life can be stressful
- With the right services and community support, people with autism can lead happy and productive lives
Families with children often look forward to going on holiday – everybody can relax, and it is also a time to strengthen family bonds.
Take Miguel Gallardo, who lives in Barcelona. Every summer the divorced father takes his autistic daughter, now 23, on holiday – usually at a resort in Spain. They swim, bask in the sun, eat and enjoy the scenery, and most importantly, each other’s company. Miguel’s story may be set in Spain, but the story resonates with parents across the globe who are raising children with autism.
Their experience, captured in a documentary film, Maria and I, is being used in an awareness campaign in Hong Kong, sponsored by the University of Hong Kong, to tackle widespread but often misunderstood health issues.
“Many people do not realise how difficult it is for families that have members with autism when they go on a trip,” says Dr Paul Wong Wai-ching, associate professor in the department of social work and social administration at the university. “One big problem for autistic people when they go out of their comfort zone is sensory challenges, which can make them feel overwhelmed, confused or even scared,” he says.
A holiday overseas is often an enjoyable treat for most people but for autism sufferers (and their families) it can be a nightmare because they cannot adjust to sudden changes in their routines, adds Wong.