{"id":18471,"date":"2020-04-07T11:41:09","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T10:41:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/?p=18471"},"modified":"2020-04-07T11:46:09","modified_gmt":"2020-04-07T10:46:09","slug":"you-wont-be-saved-if-you-go-into-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/2020\/04\/you-wont-be-saved-if-you-go-into-hospital\/","title":{"rendered":"You won\u2019t be saved if you go into hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Autism and Covid-19 \u2013 when your child takes in everything<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHILE adults are confused and worried by the unfolding Coronavirus crisis, parents of children on the autistic spectrum are faced with the problem of explaining the new world of social isolation and shielding.
For mum of two Meta Auden, owner of Spectra Sensory Clothing, the rolling news cycle produced the statement from her niece Emily that if she ended up in hospital, because of underlying health problems she was one of those who would not be saved \u2013 something her 19 year old autistic daughter Kirsty took to heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meta Auden Business Owner of Spectra Sensory Clothing <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The situation in Northern Ireland has changed so dramatically that children on the autistic spectrum have been left with reliable routines disrupted, no visits to extended family members and little in terms of schooling.
Meta is clear that communicating with children on the autistic spectrum is essential given they are seeing so much on the news and online about Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cWe are bombarded on the news and online with this unfolding crisis,\u201d she said. \u201cBut we mustn\u2019t let it overwhelm our children. It is crucial that we take the time to understand it ourselves and communicate appropriately.\u201d
\u201cIt will be the case that they have questions and we must not try and sugar coat what is a serious matter, especially as it may affect relatives that your child has an attachment to.\u201d
And, as Meta explained it can be a challenge in terms of how the information is conveyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cThe other thing about a child on the spectrum is they take everything very literal,\u201d she explained. \u201cThe first time Kirsty heard the expression \u2018it\u2018s raining cats and dogs\u2019 she fully expected to see that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cWhen the Prime Minister started an update with the words \u2018some of you will die and many die before their time\u2019 I can fully see why those words would impact on a child who looks at the world that way.\u201d
Meta and her husband fostered then adopted Kirsty, and whilst they knew she had ADHD, it was later she was diagnosed with being on the autistic spectrum disorder that they began to understand Kirsty behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


But she warns that each child on the spectrum will be different.
\u201cWhen you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism,\u201d Meta said. \u201cIt is a very wide spectrum and some children are totally non-verbal. Each one will be on a different part of the spectrum, and how they can be supported is best determined by you, as a parent, knowing better than anyone else how to help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Despite having cancer post-natal depression after having her son Matthew, as well as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and nerve pain from having a mastectomy and reconstruction Meta started her own business, as she says at the tender age of \u201c57 and three quarters\u201d.
It was Kirsty\u2019s issue with clothing that prompted her to start Spectra Sensory Clothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would buy her clothes and she would never wear them,\u201d Meta explained. \u201cShe never told me why, and we had arguments, when she was told off, she would be smirking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As she has developed a range of clothing designed specifically for children on the spectrum it has led her to meet other parents, and that connection is vital during the spread of Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cThe first thing you need to remember is you are not alone in dealing with this. Other parents and carers are considering how to cope and have the same worries that you may have,\u201d Meta said. \u201cIf you have a friends network reach out to it through your phone, the internet or social media.
\u201cThere is a lot of comfort to hear \u2018I know what you mean\u2019 from another parent.
\u201cThe exchange of tips and ideas are vital, even just to have someone to speak to that understands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


For Kirsty the change in routine has presented challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cShe takes the dog a walk around the block every day, but does not want to go near shops because she doesn\u2019t want to see lines of people waiting.\u201d Meta said. \u201cShe usually attends Specialiststerne a couple of times a week and these things have moved online with Zoom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cShe doesn\u2019t like that at all and wouldn\u2019t do it at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n