Are You Experiencing "Post Traumatic Stress?"

I interviewed Dr. Steven Gutstein, developer of Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) last week. As part of the conversation, we were discussing the process by which children with autism are diagnosed and their parents informed of the diagnosis and treatment options. Here was his take on it: "Many families have been traumatized by this process; told it's too late for their child; that there's only a one-year window. Talk about post-traumatic stress disorder -- it's pretty typical for parents with children on the spectrum.... A lot of parents feel they have to do everything; that their primary role as parent is to become a procuror of services."

I thought he hit the nail on the head. But what's your take?