Autism – Right Key to Fit Your Child’s Lock…
Autism Awareness Month. I am so thankful for this level of national presence. However, for me, autism is not an awareness month, but rather, a daily awareness. After living a little over seventeen years with a disability that I can not totally empathize with, autism has become a silent family member, or better yet, another room of my house that requires daily problem solving to enter.
Every so often, I mention my daughter in my weekly writings. She is now seventeen and will graduate high school next years. She is one of a few key motivations for this weekly blog. Together, we have chosen many unconventional answers to problems along our journey. We have faced well meaning concern and judgement over decisions that we made. Although there are many forms of support and guidance for your autistic child, being the sole participative parent for an autistic child can be a lonely business. I have learned to confide or bounce ideas off very few individuals. And, whether it be a product of time or happenstance, I find her teenage sister to be my biggest ally and confidante when it comes to Elizabeth.
The thing about autism is there are always new challenges and obstacles. At this point, it’s the realization of college and adulthood on the horizon. It’s facing the next steps and a change in relationship. It’s realizing who your daughter really is, which creates a sense of amazement at her hard-fought accomplishments and a simultaneous fear of the big, cold society that she will face daily without your rose colored filter.
The thing about reaching milestones with your autistic child, is that turning over the reigns can have a totally different meaning. Just how far do you let the reigns go and how do you do that while ensuring that their special needs are met. In my case, my daughter is very stubborn. So stubborn, that she insists on solving all problems without much thought to her autism. This gets her in trouble. Because as much as we are now “aware” as a society, society has a hard time putting their finger on what is exactly “different” about Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s stubbornness, as it relates to her disability, can be an asset and a hinderance. Because, as much as she wants to be treated the “same”, she misses so many finer interaction points because of her disability.
All of this has lead me to what? I intend on sprinkling in topics this month that deal with Elizabeth’s toughest symptoms. Because, many autistic symptoms are not necessarily specific to autism, such as anxiety in social situations. I have asked Elizabeth to supply me a list and those issues will be this month’s topic.
In the mean time, I am asking you a favor. It’s a personal pet peeve of mine so please indulge me. You may see a post from a friend, parent, etc. regarding autism awareness month. It seems as a society, we find it easy to speak our mind abrasively via social media. You may be tempted to spout off your own beliefs regarding the causes of autism or how the parent may have made or is making wrong choices. If this is you, step back. Support those parents that are sometimes walking a lonely road. Offer a listening ear.
As always, please reply with questions, comments, or other topics of interest!
“See” you next week!
