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Mother and son teach Hatters how to cope with autism

Mar 21, 2017 | 4:02 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — “Too often we fight the system instead of work within the system,” is what Autism in the Family said Tuesday afternoon.

Autism in the Family is an organization created by Diane MacNaughton and her son Peter Burczyk, who both have Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Diane and Peter host monthly seminars in Medicine Hat to talk about the importance of dealing with the disorder in order to “adapt to the world.”

On Tuesday, the two hosted Don’t Fight the System seminar to give advice to parents on how to cope with autistic children.

Peter said it’s important not to go too hard on an ASD child.

Either they go too hard and try to like basically take out wooden blocks and try to numb their feelings and whatever,” said Peter. “Basically what happens is the reactions to different sensitivities become worse.”

However, Peter also mentioned going too soft is not good either.

“If people go too soft, where they actually like, go to war with the school systems and try to make everything perfect for their child, that can do more harm than good,” he said.

Somewhere in the middle is the best way for parents to help their autistic children adapt to their surroundings.

Peter said people with autism hold on to negative emotions much longer than positive feelings.

Even after 3 years I still can’t stop thinking about a Subway employee who was rude to me once or some girl who accused me of  trying to hit on her, even though I was just trying to be nice,” he said.

He said the best way for him to repress those negative emotions is by being by himself.  He said each ASD individual has to learn how to cope with their sensitivities and the seminars help children and their parents find the best coping mechanism for them.

“If an autistic isn’t really dealing with all of the problems that a normal person is, they’re not really going to adapt all that well.”