Autism Awareness

April is Autism Awareness month.

In the 9 months since Sara's diagnosis, we have cried, laughed, learned, loved, and hoped all things Autism. We never met an autistic before and didn't really know much about it. We heard catch phrases like "if you met one person with autism, you met one person with autism". Say what??? That just made it more overwhelming to us. It just seemed so big.

There was no familiar face that could show us the ropes. We got a diagnosis and recommendations for ABA therapy for our doctor only to learn that our insurance doesn't cover it. We got an IEP and special ed placements that would start with the next school year....3 long months away....which seemed like a lifetime to this nervous mama. It was overwhelming to say the least!

Autism awareness is something that is alive and well in our home. We are aware of what we know, but more importantly, we are aware of how much we don't know. We slowly wade thru to figure out how to best give our girl the tools she needs....not to change her or "cure" her....but to support her. One thing we have come to discover is that there are gifts in this thing called Autism.....Tolerance, compassion, understanding. Precious, life altering gifts.

Autism awareness isn’t, shouldn’t be just a day or month out of the year; it should be 365 days a year. Challenge your family, friends, acquaintances, yourself on what we know about autism…for Tolerance, compassion, understanding.

Talk about autism…talk about the many autisms....for that will bring Tolerance, compassion, understanding. Precious, life altering gifts.

I'll leave you with part of a great list I stumbled across that was put together by Emily Willingham who is a writer, scientist, partner, and parent. She manages the Double X Science site and blogs at The Biology Files. Practice makes perfect.....it's not easy but it will make the world a safer and more tolerant place for our sweet girl and those on the spectrum.....

1. Practice perspective taking. It’s ironic that autistic people are expected to have trouble with insight into others when so many people have trouble with insight into autistics. Everyone should try on the other person’s shoes and walk around in them for a while.

2. Practice not judging. It’s hard not to judge. We make countless judgments big and small, every day. But before you judge another person, remind yourself that behavior is communication. Rather than judging, ask yourself, “What is that person’s behavior saying that will help me understand better?”

3. Practice compassion. It’s a corollary to the first two, and it’s not easy. That’s why it takes practice.


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