Mother of autistic child: we weren’t afraid after receiving the diagnosis

Alytus mother Justina Jurkšienė says her son Gabrielius, now nearly seven, was diagnosed with autism, but the news did not frighten the family. Speaking to LRT.lt, she explained that early signs of developmental differences appeared before his first birthday, prompting the family to seek support.

“We noticed when he was probably less than a year old. Until seven or eight months, his development was typical, but then it started to slow. When his peers began speaking and even forming sentences, his language didn’t develop as naturally,” Jurkšienė said. The family consulted a speech therapist but initially did not pursue a formal diagnosis.

As Gabrielius approached preschool age, his parents realised he might need targeted support in the classroom. This led them to seek a clearer understanding of his challenges, eventually confirming his autism diagnosis. Jurkšienė, a mental health ambassador, said the family was not afraid, as she had long been familiar with mental health topics.

“For us, it wasn’t scary or worrying because my own attitude towards mental health is quite unusual for Lithuania. I’ve been a mental health ambassador for many years, so these topics are close to me, and I’m not afraid to talk about mental health,” she said.

Gabrielius is now a sociable and extroverted child who enjoys initiating conversations with strangers, though he sometimes struggles with social cues. “Gabrielius is very open, but he doesn’t always notice whether the other person expects him to say something or not,” Jurkšienė said. His speech, once limited to single words, has improved significantly, and he now communicates clearly.

She acknowledges that raising a child with a severe disability can present greater challenges for parents, but emphasises that for children with mild or moderate conditions, success depends on how much parents allow them to be themselves. Gabrielius thrives in a private kindergarten, where he is happy and learning a lot, though his mother notes that access to support in Alytus remains a painful issue.