My Child has Autism now what?

My child has Autism now what?
You’re in the doctor’s office, development clinic, or at the school and someone looks at you from across the desk with that look that you know is never good. A look of sympathy and concern. You know immediately something isn’t right. That the assumptions you had about your child’s progress were coming true. Then the words come. “I am sorry to tell you this but your child has Autism.” It doesn’t matter the degree to which they have it. Mild or severe; Aspergers or Retts. It all hits you the same way. Like a blow to the chest. The cannon ball had been shot and it landed right in your lap and is followed by the waves of questions and doubt. “Did I do anything to cause this?” “Can my child be cured?” “Where do I find help?” “WHY MY CHILD?”
I know this feeling very well. I can remember like it was yesterday. I was strong when the news was given to me about my daughter. I kept my composure the best I could. I even said thank you and took her hand and walked out. It was the days and weeks that followed that tested every part of my being. The questions and doubt came quicker in between the tears. I remember reading the statistics that 80% of marriages end in divorce if you had a child with special needs. I remember looking at pictures and videos of children upon children with the same vacant stare that my child had in her eyes. I remember watching a program where a father said that some day’s he wondered if his child would be better off if he took a walk to the lake behind their house and drowned. Like to somehow save his child from this world. Watching that father was a turning point for me. I was not like that man. I feel blessed to have my children no matter what package they come in. I was going to make sure my child would be better off with me helping her then not here at all! I wasn’t going to live in the world of sadness hopelessness and doubt any longer. I knew the road wasn't going to be easy. I knew there would be a lot of bumps and crossroads along the way. But I wasn’t going to give up as that man did. I wasn’t going to deny my daughter the best life possible or myself the best life possible by giving in or giving up. I now had a mission. One of acceptance, activism, and hope. I owed that to my daughter, my other children, my husband and myself.