What This ASD Family Wants You To Know

I see you.

You've changed your profile picture on Facebook to "Light It Up Blue".

You've liked my posts related to autism.

You may have even changed your outside lights to blue bulbs to show your support.

But what are you REALLY doing to understand and support those with autism?

1. Acknowledge that those on the spectrum, their families and loved ones and not just looking for you to be aware of autism, they and us, are looking more for ACCEPTANCE.

2. Teach. If you are a parent, please teach your children to be friends with the kids that are different. Teach them to be compassionate and understanding. Teach them to protect and defend the more vulnerable kids. If you are a teacher, make sure part of your classroom lesson includes peer inclusion. The world can be a very lonely place and depression is far more common in those with developmental disabilities.

3. Its called "Autism SPECTRUM Disorder" because there is a broad range or disorders. So while you may know someone whose child flaps her arms, the next child on the spectrum might not. Never assume our children will act a certain way.

4. There is no cure. Mr. A will be autistic forever. Kids grow up into adults and we have to focus on our adult ASD society as much as children.


The biggest thing you can do is be aware ALL YEAR LONG. Not just April.

Humanity Stopped Listening

I know I am not alone when I say the 2016 political year has been ugly.

UGLY

No matter what news report you listen to, no matter what online source you follow, it is all hateful. There came a point when the issues were forgotten and it became a he said/she said tantrum of events. I cringe when I log onto social media, a place where I share stories about my children, a place where I go to follow friends I don't get to see often, and all I see are repulsive attitudes. Cyber bullying at it's finest.

So as I normally write about autism and disabilities, how does this relate to my root cause?

I often wonder how I can expect society to accept my child, to be kind, to teach your own children about acceptance, when in fact society can't practice it themselves?

I tend to think I will spend the rest of my life on this earth fighting the fight, fighting his fight. Being that mama bear that has to protect it's young because I have no faith in humanity.

When I have friends still using the word "retarded" to refer to a political figure, I guess they are not my friends after all. When you belittle someone online for their political choice, you are a bully. Plain and simple. And while I hope you are not passing that mentality on to your children, the ones that sit with my son at lunch, chance are they are learning it from you.

Remember when your mom taught you "if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all"?

Humanity stopped listening to their mom.

Finding Friendship

A gets so upset when big brother G hangs out with friends. All A has ever wanted were friendships, to hang out with other kids and just have fun.

Well, he got his wish.

Granted, mommy made it happen because A's social awkwardness tends to get in the way, but it happened none the less.

Thank you to his school buddy for hanging out, playing Lego's and video games and just showing A that friendships are possible.

Happiness comes in friendships

Kindness Does Exist

It's our 3rd day of school and we haven't been kicked out yet. I'm joking. Kinda.

When I met A after school yesterday, his smile said it all.

"How was your day buddy"?

"I love 2nd grade".

Best response ever.

So when we showed up in line this morning, we started our line up ritual. Hubby found that Rock, Paper, Scissors reduces his before school anxiety. We spend a few minutes talking about our daily expectations, after school activities and then jump into rock, paper, scissors before the teacher comes out.

This morning we had a visitor to our line. A little girl showed up with a plastic bag in hand.

Little girl: "Hi A, I brought you a present. Close your eyes".

A: Okay (closes his eyes but peeks though)

Little Girl: "I got you a Chewbacca Furbie! Because you had a Chewbacca backpack last year"!

A: "Wow. This is awesome (and proceeds to make the Chewbacca growling noise).

I know that A was so happy not at the toy but at the thought of having someone like him enough to give him a gift. I was just happy to just have a little girl recognize that A is a pretty cool kid that loves Star Wars.

I challenge you all to make a difference in someones life.

Deliver a meal to an elderly relative. Offer a ride to someone without a car. Volunteer. Be kind.

There is someone out there that can use your kindness. Maybe one day you'll be on the receiving end.

#GoBeKind