Added stress has been heaped on families of autistic children by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alina Cameron is with Northern Autism Families Matter, and says even though autistic children are home, it is not good to have their routine thrown off by not being in school.
“The progress they’ve made in communication skills, they’ve fallen back. It’s much harder within the home to help your child make it through the day, when they’re more upset, they’re unable to control their emotions,” says Cameron.
She adds her non-verbal daughter is figuring out a computer screen for on-line learning, but can’t understand why she can’t to see her friends.
“She honestly does not understand why we’re home, and she misses her friends. She doesn’t understand how telecommunications works, she recognizes the faces, but she doesn’t recognize she can interact with them,” say the co-founder of the group.
Cameron acknowledges this pandemic has put their quest for better programming from the government somewhat on hold. Her daughter also has a difficult time understanding why community services are shut down.
There’s also a problem over finding food. She tells us despite news of trucks continuing to deliver to grocery stores, some families have trouble finding specific food.
“A lot of kids on the spectrum have sensory processing issues, or food intolerance, or allergies. My daughter lives mainly on radishes and celery, and for a while there I couldn’t find them,”
Cameron adds it’s difficult enough finding the few items an autistic child will eat during good times.
