If I could "cure" autism, I would not. Please don't misunderstand. If there are things we are doing with the chemicals in our food and environment leading to autism, I want people to be educated and not do things to increase the chance their child will face potentially debilitating challenges. And yes, I would love to save some of the heartache, financial woes, etc. challenging families and marriages. BUT those challenges have shaped us, made us more grateful, and introduced us to amazing people we would never have known without autism. I don’t want to “cure” Deane’s autism. I don’t want to change who he is, but we do want to grow the abilities and opportunities for our son and others with similar challenges.
I've known my sweet boy for six and a half years. For the last four, I have known he has autism. Time has softened my perspective. I no longer focus on what looked like autism happening to my child as I watched the light leaving his eyes. I now think of autism as part of who he is. He is uniquely Deane and he is fantastic.
As we mark another Autism Awareness Month, I asked myself what exactly do we want to come of raising awareness. We all rally around causes because we want cures or research funding or supports, etc. So, what exactly do I believe would come of autism awareness?
- For families of a young child with autism who are trying understand their situation (therapies, insurance, family roles and dynamics), I hope for support.
- For kiddos struggling to keep up in school (whether socially, academically or other), I hope for resources - trained people, time and funding needed.
- For pre-teens and teens dealing with the potential setbacks of puberty and the challenges of daily living in the social world of junior high and high school, I hope for understanding and patience.
- For those transitioning to adulthood, I hope for more employers to see the unique value of adults with autism.
- For adults who have been forgotten or dismissed, I hope for love and care.
Here are some practical ways to raise awareness and support those trying to give children and adults with autism many abilities.
EDUCATE YOURSELF
This can be challenging since autism comprises such a broad spectrum. Here are a few articles you could read or videos to watch this month to better understand individuals with autism and those caring for them:
Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew
TED Talk: Temple Grandin - The World Needs All Kinds of Minds
Autism Meet Adolescence…Kaboom!
Ten Things I Wish Someone Told Me About Parenting a Child with Special Needs
25 Random Things About Motherhood Autism Style
A Day in the Life of an Autism Parent
Calming a Meltdown - I share this 5 minute video because this is very similar to our experience for a few years. It brings tears to my eyes, but this is not what the child or the parent wants. This is two people trying to cope. It is exhausting, all of the emotions are pouring out of both. I experienced this followed immediately by a calm child hugging me and eventually saying thank you.
11 Things Never to Say to a Parent of a Child with Autism
Autistic Boy Explains Autism - a touching account of a 19 year old boy
The Obsessive Joy of Autism
SHARE INFORMATION & ADVOCATE
Share some of your favorite articles or videos with others on social media or in conversation. Don't allow adults or children to treat or even talk about people who are different in a derogatory way.
Here are a couple links about teaching children about autism:
Children’s books about autism
Teaching Children about Autism
DONATE
Consider the specific mission of nonprofits.
There are organizations who focus on improving the lives of individuals with autism and include those individuals in their organizational governing such as the Autism Society of America or Autism Self Advocacy Network.
Consider organizations that benefit your friends and neighbors who have autism. My two local favorites:
Children’s Therapy Center (Moline, IL) - Deane has been receiving OT services from CTC for four years. CTC works to make services available to all families regardless of their financial abilities. Our OT, Christy Hansen, has navigated the maturity process from 2.5-6.5 and covered almost every area of which you can think. They have an impressive history of service to our local community.
Quad Cities Autism Center (Moline, IL) - Deane has attended here since June 2011. His teachers here and the advising staff have literally taught him to communicate, have taught him the joy of learning, and have shown him endless patience and care. We have no idea where we would be without this opportunity and the extremely high standards of the director, Michelle Smyth.
Thanks for taking the time to consider what you can do this month to be an autism advocate!
