Trying to help a family with a highly gifted Autistic child. NAMI is mentioned here often, so I thought I would check it out. I don’t see any specific mention of Autism, and I am clueless of how Autism is classified in relation to mental illness.
Is it appropriate for me to refer this family to their local NAMI chapter? If not, is there another national organization that might be a helpful resource?
I don’t believe autism is considered a mental illness.
@MaineLonghorn can you chime in?
Wow, that’s a good question, @powercropper. Let me ask my NAMI Maine contact. If you don’t hear from me in a couple of days, could you send me a PM as a reminder?
@MaineLonghorn yes I will PM you in a couple of days to remind you. Thanks!
I think NAMI would be accepting of them but I doubt your friends would find help specific to autism there.
http://www.asmonline.org/resources/about-autism.aspx
This article is from the autism society of Maine. My guess is there is an Autism Society in your state too, @powercropper. This might be a good starting point for your friend.
The above linked article clearly states that autism is NOT a mental illness.
But perhaps NAMI would still be helpful to this fami,y.
But really…look for the Autism Society in your state. I know that in my state, they can connect folks with things like support groups.
Some people with autism may also have a co-morbid mental illness and NAMI could be appropriate for such families. Otherwise, I would agree with the above advice to contact the state autism groups. Remember, however, that they can have different focuses. Autism Speaks is not considered authoritative by some of my friends who are active in the autism community and they belong to different groups.
On my local NAMI site, it lists it under a mental illness: http://www.namiwc.org/autism/
(Though I know a LOT of people with autism who would take issue with it being listed as a mental illness but that’s for a different discussion.)
I do not recommend Autism Speaks.
I have found an Autism Resource Foundation in the state where this family resides. I did not see support group info on their website, but will call them tomorrow. This family is in great need of support from people who have lived what they are living right now.
If anyone else has experience with high functioning, gifted child (Asperger’s Syndrome) on the spectrum, please PM me, or share any strategies that were helpful.
I do not recommend autism speaks either.
But the Autism Society in your state should have multiple resources for this family.
NAMI is a wonderful organization…and it might be right for this family…but it might not be. Perhaps the OP can find a local NAMI chapter…and the family canntalk to someone there about what they need.
Just found an Autism Society for the state and emailed asking for help in connecting this family with some support and encouragement.
Good luck to them. There IS support out there…but they need to find something that will work for them.
There is a website that is the focus of discussion/support groups for gifted kids, including 2E kids. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name. “Hobson’s” maybe?
@Consolation The website you where trying to remember is Hogies. http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/
I haven’t heard back from my contact. I think she’s swamped with work. It looks like you’re getting some good resources, though.
The Davidson Institute also has a chat forum for parents of gifted kids, and there is a 2E forum. http://giftedissues.davidsongifted.org/BB/