The North Phoenix High Functioning Autism and Asperger Family Network (NPAFN) will be celebrating its one year anniversary this month. The group was started as a small neighborhood support system for local families and has grown quickly as more and more parents seek support to help them through the maze that is autism. The group is beneficial for those who have a child newly diagnosed, while “seasoned” High-Functioning Autism and Asperger families will feel right at home.
High-Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome are not the same, but have so many characteristics in common that families of the two find few practical differences in everyday life. Children with these neurological disorders have trouble learning practical skills and in social adaptation. Many have Attention Disorder (ADD, ADHD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) too. Making and keeping friends (and understanding all the social nuances associated with this) is a life-long struggle. They often do not have the general childhood joy of getting invited to birthday parties and play dates. Hence, NPAFN- where they find friends who understand and accept them “just the way they are.”
NPAFN members typically meet on the last Wednesday of each month, with their kids invited and encouraged to attend too. The parents love finding others in their neighborhood they can talk to about autism and the kids have found good friends who accept and understand them. While the kids are playing, the adults discuss both their difficulties and their successes. They also share new medical, school, and educational information with everyone as well as therapies that are available. Professionals in the field that are especially good and helpful are posted online for other members to see. (Some examples are: developmental pediatricians, counselors, educational advocates, speech therapists, and after-school or camp programs).
Upcoming events include a “sensory play” night and an outing to Pump It Up.
NPAFN includes our northern neighbors in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, and Carefree. Email Sharon at hfautism@cox.net for more information about NPAFN, or check out http://members.cox.net/hfautism
Sharon Hayes and Debbie Akers
Sharon Hayes, along with Mike Meek, is a founder of NPAFN. Sharon is a resident of northeast Phoenix and has two children.
Debbie Akers, a northeast Phoenix mom of three young sons, is a member of the Arizona Republic's Parent Advisory Panel.
