| If you want to know what an autistic child | | | | not being able to express why. Imagine you |
| looks like, look at your own child or | | | | have a toothache, but you're not able tell |
| grandchild. | | | | anyone. Think how you would feel if you |
| | | | really wanted affection, but a simple stroke |
| Look at the children who live next door to | | | | of your skin caused physical pain. |
| you and take a glimpse at every child you | | | | |
| walk past on the street. These could very | | | | These are a few of the things my son must |
| well be the faces of autism. There is no | | | | face and because of this, I have become |
| visible indication that a child is affected | | | | determined to put up a good fight for his |
| by this disturbing neurological disorder. | | | | life. |
| | | | |
| Autism is the king of all tricksters. I know | | | | Right now, no one expert has been able to |
| this to be true because whenever my husband | | | | confirm what causes autism, but one thing is |
| and I take our son to the store or doctor's | | | | certain: bad parenting IS NOT the cause of |
| office, the looks of disgust we receive in | | | | this impairment. Unfortunately, you still |
| response to his unruly behavior never let up. | | | | have some who are ready and willing to wave |
| Unless we inform someone, and we always have | | | | the idea around that a parent can inflict |
| to, no one has a clue that he is autistic. | | | | autism onto their child. There are a few |
| | | | people I know who are still quick to say that |
| When our ten requests for Darius to "settle | | | | there is nothing wrong with my son and he |
| down" won't get through to him, when he is | | | | only needs to be disciplined. Although such |
| climbing on chairs or is having a screaming | | | | an accusation hurts deeply, I now understand |
| fit, people continue to stare through us with | | | | that it doesn't matter who the person is or |
| questions of, "Why won't they do something | | | | how well educated they may think they are on |
| about him?" or "If that were my child I'd | | | | the subject of autism; no one can truly |
| really handle him." | | | | comprehend what it's like to raise an |
| | | | autistic child unless they are raising one |
| From time to time, I find myself getting | | | | themselves. |
| upset about the glares from individuals who | | | | |
| would never think autism is the culprit. | | | | I've recently come to the conclusion that |
| There have even been occasions when I've had | | | | there is nothing I can do about those who |
| to get a little nasty with those brave souls | | | | frown upon us. Autism is a part of my |
| who dared to make a rude comment or stare for | | | | family's life and it forever will be. A long |
| just a little longer than necessary. But, | | | | time ago I accepted that we don't fit into an |
| after all of the annoyance and rude | | | | ordinary mold; we do what we can to get over |
| exchanges, autism still lingers. It seems to | | | | the next challenge that autism presents to |
| me the only thing left to do is educate | | | | us. |
| rather than disassociate. | | | | |
| | | | So far, my husband and I have laughed in |
| So, what exactly is autism? A lot of people | | | | Autism's face while celebrating our |
| I've crossed paths with have no clue as to | | | | eight-year old's honor roll status and our |
| what this disorder is and are quick to | | | | seven-year old finally waving hello and |
| misconstrue the meaning of autistic with | | | | goodbye. We've shown and proved that autism |
| 'artistic'. | | | | will not come in between our dreams of |
| | | | normalcy and happiness. |
| Autism doesn't have anything to do with the | | | | |
| arts; our children are extremely talented, | | | | Still, there will forever be a battle to win |
| but artistic and autistic are two different | | | | with those who feel a disability is only a |
| things. | | | | disability when it screams out at you from a |
| | | | wheelchair. There will always be one |
| Autism (pronounced awe-tizem) is an illness | | | | individual who thinks a good whipping is the |
| that affects social and communication skills. | | | | only cure needed for an autistic child. |
| Some Autistic children have a hard time | | | | |
| playing with others and making friends and | | | | Sadly, for the millions of parents who know |
| some can't talk. Many autistic children | | | | better, we can only continue to do what we do |
| display behaviors that may include: | | | | best: love and support our children. Nobody |
| repetitively pouring liquids from cup to cup, | | | | else will. We are the keepers of |
| spinning around and not getting dizzy, not | | | | disappointment when we find that medical |
| wanting to be touched or hugged, lining up | | | | insurance does not cover highly expensive and |
| toys and screaming for hours. Of course, | | | | much needed behavior therapy. We are the |
| every Autistic child is different. There are | | | | proactive and often angry parents questioning |
| varying levels of this disorder and that's | | | | why sensory integration and assistive |
| why it is called a 'spectrum'. | | | | technology aren't incorporated into our |
| | | | children's individual education plan (IEP). |
| My seven-year old, who is on the low end of | | | | |
| the spectrum is nonverbal and is only able to | | | | And some of those children are the ones you |
| show me what he wants by taking me to it or | | | | see in the grocery store shrieking at the top |
| bringing a picture to me. The fact that he | | | | of their lungs or darting off nonstop at a |
| can't communicate is the reason for most of | | | | moment's notice. So please, don't be quick to |
| his severe temper tantrums. | | | | judge the parents. Looks are very deceiving. |
| | | | Take into account that it may not just be bad |
| Imagine for a moment being frustrated, but | | | | behavior; it may be autism. |