Dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autism

Last month after many many  years of  questions we got one answer Tarek has Dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autism. We tested Tarek twice during struggling years, but the answer was always the same "Sensory issues" he was getting so sensory overload that Sensory disorder was ruling his life.
I knew Tarek was different...I knew my son was struggling...I knew that Tarek was under the spectrum and that is why I never stop looking for answers. But the symptoms were overlapping with other conditions(OCD, Depression, Sensory integration, Mood disorder and others) and it made it difficult for an specialist to see it.
Had been an adjustment time for me..to be honest I still cry for it, for some crazy reason it is way more easy to deal with Down syndrome than Autism , in some way I feel that I had been getting a Master degree and getting ready for my PHD in Down syndrome and now they inform me I'm taking elementary courses for "Autism".
Everything in the Spectrum for me is "UNPREDICTABLE" ,meltdowns, screams, anxiety, alarms, people, stores, food, communication, awkward social interactions ; it is a1000 piece puzzle that you don't know where to start.
I'm relieve at the same time, finally I have an explanation of Why Tarek behave this way, and  in some weird way I feel validation that I wasn't a bad Mom! that those behaviors are not a product of bad parenting, just his way to express frustration.
I'm jealous of parents that have children just with DS...silly me....just writing it sound so wrong but it is true. Had been difficult... had been painful...I'm exhausted!!! but I'm incredible GRATEFUL that today we have answers and soon treatments, and 2017 will bring new therapies , ABA classes, behavior specialist, new IEP goals, more laughs, less meltdowns and more speech.

So I welcome with open arm My first years in Autism School, I hope my Tarek get the best in this journey and together find solutions.

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