Coping with an autistic child
Chatpirat Bansanthia teaches Luck how to make artificial flowers. |
Raising a child is never an easy task for any parent, and the task is much harder for those with an autistic child.
Chatpirat Bansanthia, 43, quit her job as a salesperson when the doctor told her her daughter was autistic.
"She needs greater care than my elder child, so I didn't hesitate to devote most of my time to her," Chatpirat said of Luck, who is now 10 years old.
The beginning
Luck's symptoms were present since she was two years old. The girl didn't sleep and often screamed at night. Her parents had to comfort her, taking her on walks until she stopped crying and fell asleep in the early hours of the morning, 2 or 3am.
When Luck was growing up, it became obvious that she was restless and impulsive. She did not react when spoken to and did not make eye contact with anyone.
Her parent suspected autism when they read a brochure on the development disorder at a kindergarten they were enrolling her in. The brochure was produced by the Association of Parents for Thai Persons with Autism to give basic information and advise parents.
The information prompted Chatpirat and her husband to take their daughter to a doctor and Luck was diagnosed with having autism at a mild level.
Through hard times
Raising an autistic child is not easy and most parent find autistic children hard to handle. Chatpirat and her husband were no exception.
"Sometimes when we took her to the market, Luck would run into thing, or stop to scoop out noodles from other people's bowls. I had to apologise and explain that she was exceptional child," said Chatpirat.
Luck's first kindergarten refused to let her continue after a year, saying that she was too impulsive. She often returned from school with wounds and bruises on her body as she usually bumped into things while playing.
Taking the girl for an outdoor trip was even more dangerous. Chatpirat recalled the time when she took Luck to a relative's house upcountry.
"She was so fast. Before we knew, she had run onto the main road and almost into a truck. Her father ran at full pace to catch her. Luckily he was quick enough," said Chatpirat.
Feeling embarrassed and nervous for their daughter's safety, the parents mostly kept her at home. The serious symptoms of the girl prompted the couple to seek advice from the Association of Parents for Thai Persons with Autism.
"To raise our daughter, we need to follow her everywhere she goes. We have to stay with her all the time and always talk to her, and show her what to do. For example, when she picked up a glass, I would immediately tell her 'That's called a glass, and it can break'. Only when the word is repeated often, would she learn how to pronounce it correctly," said Chatpirat.
She admitted it was sometimes stressful.
"I tried to relax, telling myself she couldn't do everything as perfectly as I wanted her to," said the mother.
The parents found her a new school, although it is not specialised in educating exceptional children.
Improvement
With proper care from her family, Luck has shown remarkable improvement. Since grade 3, the girl has become better in doing things herself.
"From a child who never responded to others, she has learned to interact and even show some affection for her parents. She inquired about her father when he looked ill, and brought him a glass of water. She learns more life skills daily. Today she can cook rice and make a simple omelette. We feel more at ease to leave her alone at home," said the mother.
Chatpirat also sent Luck for vocational training at the Thai Autism Vocational Centre, and discovered her strengths were in computers and art. Yet, the mother said she does not want to pressurise her daughter.
"What I want is only for my daughter to help herself, be able to live in society and have skills so she can earn a living," she said.
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