Today is World Autism Awareness Day and the month of April is Autism Awareness Month. In recognition, you may see buildings lit up with blue lights and people wearing blue shirts as blue is the official color of the day.
I have mixed feelings about this day. Feelings I’m not even sure how to put into words.
Many people who experience Autism don’t feel that there is anything wrong with them. They feel like the world is trying to cure them when there is nothing wrong, and frankly, some of those “cures” over time have been dangerous. Many people with Autism have given us amazing inventions and innovations. They have truly made their mark on society. So can we really say that Autism is bad?
But on the other side of the spectrum is a group of people who have severe Autism. Most cannot communicate. Many are self-harming. Life is extremely difficult for them. Somehow I can’t imagine that if they were able to communicate, that they wouldn’t want to be “cured.”
A Broad Spectrum
Autism is such a broad spectrum of neurodiverse people that I think it’s hard to pin it down. Just as the saying goes, “When you’ve met one person with Autism, you’ve met one person with Autism.” Meaning that each person is so different in the presentation of symptoms of Autism. I have to think that an individual answer to wanting to be cured or not would vary wildly.
As a Mother of a child who has Autism as one part of him, I can’t speak for what it must be like. For the last two years, I’ve wanted to do a post on what my son would like you to know about Autism. But to him, Autism is just a word. It doesn’t really mean anything to him, and he HATES talking about his feelings. This question goes too close to the topic of feelings for him. All I can do is imagine what it must be like.
Autism in our world, here in our little family has been difficult, and hard. We haven’t seen major contributions to our world like some with Autism have been able to accomplish.
But. . .
That doesn’t mean that we won’t. With the right support, many people with Autism can succeed and be an asset to the community. So today, what I want you to take away from this post is this-
When you are looking to hire someone for a job, consider widening your search parameters. A large portion of adults who experience Autism are unemployed. Many of them are smart, capable people. Consider taking a chance on someone who seems just a little different. Maybe they might need a few accommodations. But so do many other people. Are you a working Mother? Sometimes you need accommodations to work and care for your children. Someone with diabetes may need an extra break to eat or give themselves a shot. Small changes can include more people.
And. . .
You will make a difference in their world and they will make just as big a difference in yours!
I have a friend who’s daughter has autism and she is in my son’s class. This is a lovely post I am going to send it to her. Thank you for sharing this with #TriumphantTales. Do come back next week!
Thank you! I love it when people share my posts with people they know.
Thank you for this beautiful post. We truly are each so unique! And I agree that the question of a “cure” is such a difficult one to pinpoint. I can’t wait to get to Heaven when all of the veils will be fully removed, and we will be able to see the difference and blessing that each one has brought into the hearts around us. I have been so blessed and moved by the heart of my friend’s daughter with Down’s Syndrome, that is another disability in our world. And yet, God moves through each of our weaknesses. May I continue to keep my eyes open to hear God’s heart for each person.
I agree that God moves through us through our weaknesses. Heaven knows I have a lot and he has used them many times. Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you for this Post. I’m going to send this link to a good friend of mine that has a child with autism. I’m sure she would love to read it. Have a great day!
That is the best compliment anyone could give me! Thank for stopping by and reading and especially for sharing my words.
Thank you for this post Calleen…
Blessings,
Jennifer
Thank you.
One of the issues with labels is that they can be limiting. We strive so hard to teach our children that everyone is just a person, that these types of things don’t matter. But then so many people try to draw attention to these labels that it becomes a divisive issue. It is unfortunate that our world had to label so many things. Your children are special and are unique, just like mine. I am looking forward to continue seeing your family grow and change and influence the world from your corner of it.
Thank you for stopping in and reading. I don’t mind labels as much, as we have to have a word to describe what we are seeing, feeling, etc. Those labels give people access to the care they need because they have been identified as having that need. But I do think there is more than meets the eye to a lot of conditions and many people are far more capable than they are given credit for when people see those labels.
I love how you say ‘the world is trying to cure them when there is nothing wrong’.
I think anything that raises awareness is a good thing, the more we know the more we understand, about anything. But I also agree that labels are not always helpful and almost always only tell just a small part of the story.
Interesting – thank you.
Thanks for stopping in and reading. I appreciate it.
Dealing with labels that carry stigmas is difficult. Good post providing food for thought.
Thank you. This definitely is a subject that involves a lot of thinking.