Parenting a child with autism can bring unique joys and challenges arising from a multitude of factors—for example, first words, uncertainty about the future, communication deficits, managing challenging behaviors, and educational system challenges. This constant pressure from the challenges can have a negative emotional impact on parents. They tend to feel emotionally drained and void of self-care. Make your self-care a priority by maintaining your physical and mental well-being to promote a more positive parenting experience. There are three strategies that I advise parents to decrease their stress: (1) Use interventions, (2) make room for you, and (3) accept your mistakes.

I recommend applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ABA is an intensive behavior therapy with a significant amount of empirical evidence indicating that it can improve the outcome for some children with ASD, especially if implemented in the early developmental period (i.e., before age 5). "ABA assists with improving social skills and functional communication, reducing challenging or maladaptive behaviors, and improving other early developmental outcomes for children with autism, which improves their independence and quality of life," said Dr. Megan Payer, Ph.D., BCBA,........

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