| Volunteer With Autistic Children | | | | to help. It is someone who could or might be able |
| Natural supports are needed by everyone, not | | | | to help you if you needed it. Volunteer With |
| only children with Autism. Parents of children with | | | | Autistic Children |
| disabilities do not think in terms of 'supports and | | | | I heard one definition of a natural support that |
| services'. They are busy raising children, going to | | | | asked, "How many people do you know who |
| doctors and therapies, dealing with the school. Oh | | | | could and would be at your house in 30 minutes?" |
| yeah, and it might be nice to get to work now | | | | Another definition asked, "Which of the people |
| and then. | | | | you know, would bring you soup and juice if you |
| If parents of children are not paying attention | | | | were sick?" |
| they can become more and more isolated. This | | | | Either of these questions are good starting points. |
| isolation is part of what leads to not developing | | | | Natural supports are needed to make life |
| supports. Then when the family is ready for | | | | interesting and keep us connected with the people |
| someone to help with their child with Autism it is | | | | and world around us. A natural support might call |
| more complicated. | | | | when our child is someplace unusual or a natural |
| Natural supports are part of what makes life | | | | support might report on seeing our child and a |
| interesting. A support might be a friend or | | | | paid support in the community. Either one of |
| neighbor. It could be a co-worker or someone | | | | those is a priceless service when you have a child |
| involved with an organization you might volunteer | | | | with Autism. |