Archive
Dealing with Opinions
February 29, 2012
By Lee Passehl
Sometimes other people’s opinions can be hurtful to me. For example, when I enjoy watching something on the Internet and someone makes a bad comment about the video, it can make me not like the video, distract me from watching the video, or not want to watch it anymore. So I’ve learned to stay away from the comments bar (where people can type what is on their mind about the video).
In 2005 when I was 20, I joined a local sports message board site because I was missing my friends from high school and I wanted to make some new ones. I thought this website would be a good place to do it because most of the people on the site were my age and liked sports (I was a manager for my high school football and basketball teams and participated on the track team). About two weeks of being on the message board, I noticed that the people on the website hated/disliked auto racing (mostly NASCAR) and made strong opinions about it. They also said “it was not a sport” because they thought it wasn’t physical. This really offended me because I loved auto racing. They would trash auto racing and this really made me feel bad.
One time when I got into a big argument with a member of the message board, he told me that I “had no right being here.” This really lowered my self esteem. I decided to get off the board. One member said I “really needed a life” and it really made me feel stupid and worthless. My parents had to deal with my constant anxiety about it and it affected all our lives negatively for a very long time.
These days, I am pretty much careful about what I post and where I post it. I can now handle opinions much better, but I still need a lot of help when dealing with them. I can deal with criticisms about my driving when someone tells me how to take a corner better or if my car is not handling right. However, the opinions opposing my opinions still bother me just a bit. I am still sensitive, especially when people get mean and nasty. I need to separate the person from their opinions, and that’s very hard for me to do. But one day I will shrug it off and laugh and I tell myself that this doesn’t deserve my attention. These things are not worth obsessing over and dwelling on all my life. It takes me a very long time to “let go” because it feels like it’s welded to my hands. I am still learning about how to recognize my emotions and what to do with them.
Lee blogs for the Autism Society about his life with autism. Read his story!
Topics:Living with Autism
And If I Only Stopped There….
February 22, 2012
By Desiree
A parent always wonders what their child is going to be like when he or she is born. What color hair will they have? What color will their eyes be? Whose smile they will inherit? As a parent, you wonder for nine long months until that moment… that moment when that bundle of joy enters your world. In that split second nothing else matters. From that moment on you’ve finally realized what love is really all about.
Dylan and his new iPad from The Puzzling Piece!
My son Dylan will be three this March. Since he was born, he’s always had his own agenda. It was his way or the highway. Dylan crawled early, he walked early, and he even babbled early. I remember his grandmother always saying, “He is going to be an early talker!” And that’s when the silence began.
At Dylan’s one year check up, I told his pediatrician that I was very concerned about Dylan’s speech. She referred me to Early Intervention to see if he would qualify for speech services. About a month later, Dylan was evaluated and it was determined he had speech and other delays as well as sensory needs. He was then enrolled once a week in speech and occupational therapy. Months went by and I noticed Dylan was not making that much progress. His speech was still delayed, he was still seeking sensory input and now his behavior was changing. He started screeching because he did not like to be touched. His eye contact was growing worse, and he wouldn’t acknowledge when you called his name. So back to the doctors I went, telling his pediatrician that I wanted to get Dylan’s hearing checked just in case. Maybe it was his hearing, but deep down I knew there was more to the picture. A mother always knows.
Well, Dylan got his hearing checked and the doctor said his hearing was perfectly fine. Around that time was his re-evaluation for Early Intervention. Dylan was tested again and showed even more delays than before. I knew I needed to take the next step, I just didn’t want to hear the outcome. I kept saying to myself, “He’s fine, it’s just a phase, he’ll grow out of it.” But in my gut I knew… I couldn’t keep lying to myself. The more I wait, the worse it will get.
I called up the children’s hospital to receive the paperwork to get the process started, and I contacted my son’s doctors office to make them aware I was getting Dylan evaluated. The head doctor was also a child developmental specialist and he wanted to evaluate Dylan himself before taking the other steps. At the end of the evaluation, he told us he believed Dylan had anxiety. I thought to myself that it didn’t seem right. Why the speech delay? Why the constant screeching and repetition? Still, I wanted answers.
After several months, I finally got an appointment for Dylan to be evaluated at the hospital. The appointment was long, the questions were very in depth and Dylan was all over the place. Finally the evaluation was finished and the doctors told us to come back that following Wednesday for the results. Wednesday came and Dylan’s grandmother and I went to the hospital. Sitting in the little conference room, my heart was racing. The doctor went over the whole test, what they saw, how Dylan acted etc, etc. As the doctor read off her notes, my mind started to wander. I kept saying to myself, “I understand why you are doing these tests! I just want to know what is wrong with my son!”
But, just as both our eyes made contact, I heard the words, “your son has autism.” My stomach dropped. I started to cry. Thinking it is one thing, but actually hearing someone say it makes it real. She then told us the different types of services she wanted Dylan to receive (such as ABA) to help with his behavior, more speech and OT. And to have him enrolled in about 15 hours a week of services.
Leaving that appointment I knew the first thing I was going to do was go on the computer and look up as much information I could about autism. I kept telling myself, “My son deserves all the services he can get. I will go above and beyond for my son to get whatever he needs to succeed.”
Dylan and his mom
Article after article, website after website, research study after research study, finally I came across an article about children with autism using iPads to communicate. As I read on, I saw that there are at least three dozen apps that are designed for children with autism, including ones for music and reading. Even the device itself supports spoken text. I contacted my son’s speech therapist and she told me that there are some organizations that will help children with autism get an iPad. There was one in particular that I could find on the Autism Society’s website called The Puzzling Piece.
So I went online and started reading how to win an iPad. By selling 60 puzzle pieces (i.e. necklace, keychain, etc) I would win an iPad. I realized, not only would people who bought a piece be helping an amazing cause, but my son could get this amazing tool to help him speak more and even help him when he can’t tell us what he wants or needs. I quickly wrote an email to Melissa, founder of The Puzzling Piece, and instantly got an email back explaining what I had to do, pictures of her products and different types of ways to get it out there. I was so excited! It was a brand new journey I was about to embark on.
I had to be creative. I made a Facebook event called The Puzzling Piece Challenge for Dylan and sent it out to just family and close friends. It was a huge hit. By day three, Melissa called me telling me I was a “rock star!” She explained that Dylan already had 34 pieces bought and she couldn’t believe it!
The Puzzling Piece Challenge for Dylan on Facebook
I was in total shock. She kept saying “You’ll have this iPad in no time, I can feel it, just keep up the good work!” Well it didn’t stop there. Friends, classmates and family members were spreading the word to co-workers, other family friends and other friends. These pieces were being bought like crazy! But by the third week we were in a rut. Finally, my close friend Ryan called me and told me to make the Facebook event into an Evite, an online invitation that sends you a link that can be shared in an email, text or even on Twitter. Well, my friend Ryan and her friend decided to go on Twitter and “tweet” all of these actors, actresses, singers, news broadcasters, journalists, and radio stations about Dylan’s event. We had Jamie Lynn Spears ( Brittany Spear’s sister) Adam Bouska (founder of the NOH8 Campaign) Randy Houska, reporter Carina Mackenzie, Meghan Nelson, and more people spreading the word! I had complete strangers telling their family and friends about Dylan’s Challenge and buying pieces. It was so unreal!
Finally, on February 16, I got a phone call from Melissa telingl me I only had four more pieces to go. She said Dylan WOULD have his iPad today, no if’s ands or buts. Those last four were bought in less than 15 minutes…finally Dylan won his iPad! I honestly could not believe it. After receiving the phone call that Dylan won, my friend Ryan then told me that TV stars Gabi and Dani Victor will be hosting a benefit in March in honor of Dylan for children with autism.
It is just remarkable how many amazing and thoughtful people that are out there, that are willing to help in any way. Dylan and I have a long journey ahead of us, but it will be an amazing one. He is my inspiration and he has made me, as his mother, a better person than I ever was. He has made me see what life is really all about.
Topics:Living with Autism
Paranormal
February 17, 2012
By Jeff Stimpson
I sit down at Alex’s tri-annual IEP meeting expecting it will last about 15 minutes. I squeeze into the miniscule seats with Alex’s teacher and OT, his PT and speech therapist, and a nice guy from the DOE (Department of Education) who seems to run the show. We talk about Alex.
First, we go over familiar territory on Alex’s IEP, his progression on language, his ability to do simple addition. He delivers the newspapers to classrooms every morning with a staff member, a vocational training. They hope Alex (13, PDD-NOS) will continue using fewer and fewer prompts in the months ahead.
“But sometimes he doesn’t understand that he has to deliver the paper and leave the classroom,” his teacher reports. “He wants to say ‘hi’ to everyone and examine everything in the class…” He’s also bolted from his occupational therapist and tried to make for the school playground.
“We’ve been discussing,” says his unit teacher, “that Alex could benefit from a one-to-one paraeducator. I think with hormones and puberty and everything going on, it’s becoming a little too much for him to focus.”
My kid will truly, really, never – as the shriveling budgets and the fiscal years pass one-by-one – ever live independently. (As they said back in the NICU when he was born, "I just don’t want you to think you’ve ever going to have a normal baby.")
I bring my own Alex stuff, too. Can they help him understand that he shouldn’t leave our apartment and bust in on neighbors? Stop biting his arm when frustrated, stop unraveling and ripping his own T-shirts? Can they help him understand the dangers of traffic? Can anyone?
“I can’t have him run across the street when I have five kids back here on this corner,” his teacher says. She adds that sometimes Alex will also listen only to her, and not to the class paras and other staff members. Familiarity breeds authority with Alex.
Disruptive? Disturbing? “I wouldn’t say ‘disruptive’ and I wouldn’t say ‘disturbing,’ either,” the unit teacher replies. She’s discussed the para idea with others, and believes Alex would benefit in focusing and transitions “just for one or two years. We don’t ever want him to become dependent on one person.”
Including dad, I realize. They called to remind me of this appointment a couple of times. How come they never mentioned the para discussions?
We move to Alex’s other potential vocational work, based on his interests: janitorial, laundry. He loves laundromats. “He mopped the kitchen floor the other day,” I say, feeling kind of like a defendant. “Of course, we do have a Swiffer, and I think he just likes to press the button on the handle.”
“We use erasable markers, and have him wipe up the marks,” his teacher says.
“We don’t need to create extra spills in our house,” I say.
“We have a class that goes out to do laundry every Thursday,” the unit teacher adds. “It isn’t Alex’s class, but if he had a one-to-one para, he could go with them.”
They want it, they say he needs it, and for now all they have to do is write it on the IEP and the City of New York, for some reason I still don’t understand amid my growing cynicism, must come to up with the para. In another timeline, Alex might get booted from public school now. How much longer will that apparent right of mine continue?
“You could write that Alex needs a ride on the space shuttle and the city has to produce it,” I said. “Put down that he needs a BMW, will you?” No sense abandoning humor yet.
Jeff Stimpson is a native of Bangor, Maine, and lives in New York with his wife Jill and two sons. He is the author of “Alex: The Fathering of a Preemie” and “Alex the Boy: Episodes from a Family’s Life With Autism” (both available on Amazon). He maintains a blog about his family at jeffslife.tripod.com/alextheboy, and is a frequent contributor to various sites and publications on special-needs parenting, such as Autism-Asperger’s Digest, Autism Spectrum News, the Lostandtired blog, The Autism Society news blog, and An Anthology of Disability Literature (available on Amazon). He is on Linked In under “Jeff Stimpson” and Twitter under “Jeffslife.”
Have you had a similar experience in an IEP? Tell us in the comments!
Topics:Living with Autism
Father Recognized with BRAVE Award
"I don't know about the word caregiver. I'm their father."
January 30, 2012
By Autism Society
Zarrar's Story
Global specialty biopharmaceutical company Shire honored Zarrar as one of 14 caregivers through an inaugural international recognition program called the BRAVE Awards.
Most people couldn’t imagine how difficult caring for a child with a disability can be. Zarrar cares for four. His three daughters, all in their early teens, suffer from a form of Mucopolysacchridosis (MPS) and one of his two sons lives with autism.
His daughters’ condition causes hyperactivity, hearing loss, sleep disorders, loss of speech, mental retardation, blindness and dementia. Most MPS patients die before the age of 15. Even with this knowledge, Zarrar approaches every day with a “glass-half-full” attitude.
He gives his daughters, who become less mobile every day, and his son as normal a life as possible, playing outside with them, taking them to the local parks and on mini-vacations. He’s also working on renovating his house, making it more accessible to his girls.
Zarrar, along with his wife, are constantly dealing with the everyday feedings and consistent needs associated with caring for four children with disabilities, three of whom can barely complete day-to-day activities on their own.
Yet Zarrar remains unfazed by it all. His personality is one of giving help, not asking for it. His greatest joys in life are his children. And he strives every day to fill their lives with as much joy as they’ve given him.
Through it all, he has the same reply for anyone who commends him for how much he gives his family. He tells them his wife is the true hero, not him. And that speaks volumes for how selfless and inspirational Zarrar really is.
About the award
Shire received nearly 400 nominations from seven countries over 10 weeks for the BRAVE Awards. The BRAVE Awards Selection Committee, which included select Shire employees and Gary Barg, Editor in Chief of Today’s Caregiver and caregiver.com, as well as author of The Fearless Caregiver, reviewed and ranked the nominations based on the qualities that define Shire’s own BRAVE culture: respect, courage, dedication, impact and patience. Shire’s nearly 5,000 employees from across the world helped to select the Recipients and Distinguished Honorees from the pool of eligible finalists.
Shire is proud to honor 14 people as part of the inaugural BRAVE Awards; 10 Recipients each will receive $10,000 USD or the local currency equivalent, and four Distinguished Honorees will each be awarded $2,500 USD or the local currency equivalent, for a total of $110,000 USD.
“The BRAVE Awards is an outstanding program that recognizes those who selflessly dedicate their lives to the health and well-being of others who need it most,” said Mr. Barg. “The 14 inaugural recipients and honorees are heroes who are truly deserving of this recognition.”
Click here to read more about the BRAVE recipients!
Topics:Living with Autism
It is your turn to… Ask the Autism Society
January 25, 2012
By Autism Society
If you have been following the conversation on Facebook and our e-newsletter, ASA-Net, then you know the Autism Society has set its sights toward following long-term strategic goals:
1. Ensure 100% of children showing the signs of autism are screened by 3.
2. Pave the way for the successful transition of young adults who leave the educational system in order that they can be gainfully employed, have options to advance their education, and/or be successful in living as independently and self-sufficient as possible.
During the past two weeks, you recommended the initiatives that could be successful in your communities and told us the issues most important to you in regards to early screening and transitions to adulthood. The Autism Society exists to serve you. That’s why it’s your turn to ask us the questions about our goals.
Here’s how it works
Please leave your questions about the Autism Society’s goals and course of action in the comments of this blog post by 11:59 EST on Sunday, January 29. Your questions will be answered in a following blog post by Autism Society Board Chairman Jim Ball, and Autism Society President and COO Scott Badesch.
Remember you need to sign before you leave a comment. All comments must first be approved by the webmaster, so please don’t be concerned if your comment isn’t posted immediately!
Note: If you’re seeking general information about autism, particular treatments, local resources or have another question that doesn’t directly relate to the Autism Society’s goals, please contact the Autism Society’s information and referral department Autism Source ™ at 301.657.0881 or send us a message.
Topics:Living with Autism, News
Patience, Strong Will, & Optimism: An Autism Parent’s Resolutions for Success
It’s important to celebrate everything. The smallest successes are still successes and out of small things do great things grow. That’s something I believe with the greatest of resolve.
January 19, 2012
By Dan Olawski
Mikey giggled, said “No fanks,” and ran away from me once again. I was trying to get him to go sit on the potty, but he kept evading my attempts to herd him into the bathroom. As I finally caught him and guided him to the toilet I realized the importance of my New Year’s resolutions.
I took a deep breath and said to myself, “patience.” As parents of children with autism, our patience is frequently tested and I’ve resolved to be even more patient this year as I work to help Mikey through autism’s daily challenges. Taking a moment to be calm and realize that our children need us to be patient and loving is the most important thing we can do for them.
As I squatted down to help Mikey, I felt my back and leg muscles ache and made myself a promise to attempt the most cliché of resolutions…lose weight and get back in shape. As Mikey gets older, stronger, and faster I need to be able to keep up with him. Our children need us to be at our best at every second and being as healthy as we can be both physically and mentally will help keep us sharp and ready for any test.
Mikey started singing a silly song to me to avoid sitting on the potty, I realized the smile on my face was clouding another of my resolutions: don't let the cuteness factor influence how much I push Mikey when he doesn’t want to do something. Okay, I admit it…I find Mikey to be the most amazing, interesting, adorable little boy in the world. Does that mean he can charm me out making him do things? Well…yes. So, I have my work cut out for me in achieving this one, but I’m gonna bite my tongue (and wait until I’m out of Mikey’s sight before I laugh) and push Mikey a little harder.
After I finally got Mikey to sit on the potty, I realized that he was only partially successful in my purpose for bringing him there. It gets a little frustrating because Mikey’s not completely potty trained and we’re still having trouble getting him to understand what he needs to do to avoid wearing pull-ups. But even though, in this instance, he didn’t do exactly what I was hoping he would, I still said, “Good job, Mikey!” It’s important to celebrate everything. The smallest successes are still successes and out of small things do great things grow. That’s something I believe with the greatest of resolve.
Mikey smiled at me while he washed and dried his hands. As I opened the door to let him go back to play I smiled, kissed him, and said, “It’s okay, buddy, we’ll get it next time.” I watched him run back into the other room and felt good about my decision to always be optimistic. With a spring in my step I followed behind him and repeated to myself, “We’ll get it next time.”
Dan Olawski blogs about fatherhood and his son Mikey for the Autism Society. He lives with his family on Long Island, N.Y., where he works as a writer/editor. His time is spent following Mikey with a vacuum cleaner, watching his beloved New York Yankees and continuing his pursuit of the perfect chocolate chip cookie. He can be contacted at dantheeditorman@gmail.com.
Topics:Living with Autism
The Puzzling Piece: I'm a Mom on a Mission!
January 18, 2012
By Melissa Winter
The following is a message from Melissa, a mom on a mission and founder of The Puzzling Piece!
Visit www.thepuzzlingpiece.com for more information about how you can take the iPad challenge, get unique Valentine's Day gifts AND help the Autism Society!
Topics:Living with Autism
Finding Ways to Mask Bad Behaviors
January 12, 2012
By Lee Passehl
Hello everyone! In this issue of my blog I would like to talk about my past experiences in Radio Control Car racing. When I was younger, during a race I would swear a lot on the drivers' stand. I would swear when I hit a board or rolled my car over. I also yelled at slower racers who would not move out of my way. I never swore around my parents when I was at home. But when it came to an intense race, it would come right out of my mouth, like a reflex action. This upset the owner of the track, who I respect greatly. He told me that if I continued this type of behavior I would be banned from the track for life. I couldn't hold it in, it just seemed automatic. This scared me a great deal because if I lost the right to race at Trackside Raceway, my dream of winning the Tamiya North American Finals would be over and I knew that would be like losing my life. I had to find something that would prevent me from swearing. But what could I do if could not control myself?
I found a way.
Two nights before a points series race in Green Bay, I went to a local sports store and found a boxing mouthguard. When I took it out of the package, I tested it by swearing a few times to see if anyone could understand me. I used it for the first time and it worked awesome. It kept me from dropping obscenities. I used the mouthguard for about four years until I didn’t think I would need it anymore. It helped a lot. I write this to help you know that you can find other ways to mask bad behaviors. Get creative. People thought I wore the guard to protect me from clenching my teeth. I know the real reason.
Thank you for reading my January issue of my blog. Again, I welcome comments.
Topics:Living with Autism
Help Me Be the First Miss America in 91 Years to Have an Autism Platform
January 4, 2012
By Natalie Davis, Miss Minnesota 2011
This is my last Autism Society blog before I leave to compete in the Miss America pageant this month. It is important to me that the followers of this blog know that Miss America is more than just a beauty pageant. The Miss America Organization has given me a voice and an opportunity to take my personal experience with autism and channel it into service work that positively impacts my community. I would like to take this time to share my personal connection to autism as well as some of the ways I have been working to improve the lives of people impacted by this condition.
My brother Trevor has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) called Asperger’s Syndrome. My passion for autism stems from my personal connection to the condition. First and foremost, I serve as a supportive sister. I have been Trevor’s swimming teacher, tutor, coach, advocate and best friend.
Trevor’s struggle to make friends and his success in doing so after enrolling in a social skills class inspired me to found Awesome Club, a social skills program for special needs children that meets weekly in the Northfield School District, near where I attend St. Olaf College. I wrote a program proposal, met with the district’s autism specialist, special education teachers and superintendent, and solicited volunteers from my college. Since its inception, Awesome Club has experienced tremendous growth. It began with four students and four volunteers. Four years later, Awesome Club now serves over 30 special needs students at two different schools.
| Awesome Club |
During the six and a half months that I have been Miss Minnesota, I have traveled over 17,000 miles, working to increase awareness of ASD by speaking at schools, civic organizations and community events. My message of hope and success for individuals with ASD has reached even more people through the use of radio, television and social media. I have collaborated with numerous autism organizations, including the Autism Society of Minnesota as its official spokesperson and Steps of Hope committee member, and the Autism Society of America as a spokesperson and popular blog contributor. I have also volunteered with Autism Speaks, CADE (Children with Autism Deserve an Education), Holland Center, West Metro Learning Connections, Southwest Minnesota Autism Coalition, Fraser, ARC, and the Minnesota Autism Center. I participated in the production of a training video for Boy Scout troop leaders working with children with ASD, which I hope will eventually be distributed nationally to create a more inclusive environment for kids with ASD who hope to find success through Boy Scouts of America. Recently, I met with Governor Mark Dayton to discuss important legislative action related to the Minnesota autism community. My passion for this issue is evident in the number of miles I have traveled, the number of organizations with which I have networked, and the number of people I have touched with my personal story.
I am relaying some of the work I have done, not to toot my own horn, but to let America know that I am serious about working on behalf of the autism community. I leave to compete at Miss America next week, and I may have the opportunity to bring my autism advocacy to the national level as your new Miss America. I need your help. America has the chance to vote one contestant into the Top 15 at the Miss America pageant, which will air LIVE on ABC on January 14, 2012. Each contestant created a one-minute video indicating why she should be the next Miss America. My reason for wanting to be Miss America is greater than myself. I want to bring national attention to the issue of autism by becoming the first Miss America in its 91-year history to have an autism platform. Please, go to www.missamerica.org/videocontest to cast your vote to get me into the Top 15 at the Miss America pageant. Don’t forget to watch me compete for the title of Miss America LIVE on ABC from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Saturday, January 14. And, if you happen to host a viewing party, please take photos and tag “Miss Minnesota 2011 – Natalie Davis” on Facebook!
Thank you, and have a blessed new year!
Natalie Davis
Miss Minnesota 2011
To learn more about the Miss Minnesota Organization, please visit www.missminnesota.org. To follow me during my year as Miss Minnesota, read my blog at www.nataliedavis.weebly.com.
Topics:Living with Autism, News
The Person on the Other Side of the Counter
December 23, 2011
By Felecia Rozansky
I remember waiting at the grocery store checkout one afternoon and feeling annoyed that the line seemed to be moving very slowly. I looked two customers ahead of me and saw the cashier seemed to be a bit distracted as she was pushing the bananas and paper towels along the conveyor belt.
Then it occurred to me: I really had no idea what this cashier’s life was really like. What kind of home did she go home to? This was the time in my life when my son Eric was still very young, and he had just began early intervention services. My life at home was very difficult. I had my older son, Daniel, who had just turned 4 and was doing all the adventurous and exhausting things that typical 4 year olds do, and I had Eric, who was 2 and a half and doing nothing his peers were doing. Eric just screamed and sat with his dinosaur toys and looked at them all day long, except when the therapists and teachers came to our house…and then Eric screamed for 45 minutes.
On that day I stood in line at the grocery store, I remember realizing that the cashier might be like me. She might be relieved to be away from her home, or maybe she was thinking about what was waiting for her when she returned. Just like I knew what was waiting for me…chaos, loneliness and fear that things might never get better. And this was when I realized I needed to reach out to others. I’m not sure what I really expected to happen, but I knew it was better than being silent.
And now, many years later(about 13), I stand on the other side of the counter in my cookie shop (that’s right…it’s a little bakery shop that specializes in specialty gourmet cookies….all my old homemade stuff). I am proud of my little shop.As I am constantly working for change, I have pledged that a portion of my profits will be donated to the Autism Society. And this little notice on the bottom of my brochure has opened up a whole new world of people into my life.
Sometimes I will mention that a portion of my profits go to the Autism Society. Most people will just give that sympathetic nod and say, “gee that’s great.” I have learned to ignore the sympathy, I don’t really need it. But sometimes the person I am speaking with will stop, lean on the counter and tell me that they too have a relationship witha person with autism. Then the walls come down. And we talk. We’re both curious to know, “how old is the person? Where do they go to school?” And the hardest question, “How’s it going?” This is the moment of truth, and we both tell it. “Okay,” “not so great,”“good days,” “bad days,” “new meds,” “great school,” “horrible teacher,” “no friends”…and the bond is set. Neither one of us is alone, and now we’re reminded, “but I love him, love her” and we keep going. You never know who is standing on the other side of the counter…but I’m beginning to learn.
Felecia is a guest blogger for the Autism Society. Learn more by reading her story!
Topics:Living with Autism
