The Beauty of Autism...

I love autism

There...  I said it out loud.   

Some would disagree with me.  I know that and that is ok because the journey into navigating the Autism Spectrum is different for everyone.  Our journey and our navigation has been a life changing trip.  NO, I would not have chosen it in the beginning but please know, with all the honesty I can offer, I would not change one thing.  Well, in total honesty, I will say I wish I were as skilled and as knowledgeable in the beginning as I am now but, we all know, that is not how life and knowledge acquisition work, is it?  Life’s lessons are often hard won and Autism is no different.  Autism was absolutely a hard learned lesson and now it is a gift that I treasure.  The knowledge, the appreciation, the ability to see the big picture and the acknowledgment that this life, lived with journeying the spectrum, is the greatest gift.

First and foremost, I would tell any parent that Autism is not in stone.  Autism, if it is anything, it is fluid.  Ever changing and moving and never predictable at all. What a child is evaluated as being capable of at three or five years of age is not necessarily what they will be deemed capable of at six or ten.  It is ever changing, it will break your heart and it will knock your socks off at times. 

This is what I believe about Autism:

• Autism does not make you a lesser person or decrease your humanity.

• Every person has the right to be welcomed, loved and accepted into our culture for the amazing people they are....we can learn more from them than they from us if we really look and listen to who they are.

• Autism does not need a cure, it needs acceptance and love as do the children who travel its spectrum.

• I am the luckiest person ever

• My son has been a great blessing to me and this life

• Autism can make you happy

• Every child should have access to early intervention therapies

• Every parent should have a handbook and a phone number to call for support at all hours of the day.
• Autism will change you

  

Please know you do not have to agree with me....this is MY journey.  I will not be surprised if you disagree because each journey is different.  This is not an anti doctor or establishment blog.  Not by any means.  Quite the contrary.  Doctors are great, they know a lot about a lot of things and are working hard to know more but, let’s face it…Autism, as we know it today on the spectrum, is truly a fledgling field.  There is much we don’t know and the doctors are scrambling to figure out all they can.  It just takes time and in the meantime, we have to have answers.  Unfortunately, we won’t always have those immediate answers we are in search of and, as parents, we will have to go it alone and learn as we go…just as the doctors are doing.  More importantly, and the thing everyone agrees on, is early intervention is key.