In recognition of autism awareness I want to share this beautiful piece by Keli Bayrouty Rogers.
December 19, 2016 may not hold any significance to you, it may have just been a normal day. You may have gone to work, you may have started your day with breakfast and a coffee, or you may have even played hookey that day.
To me this day made everything that our little family was going through a reality.
You see, on December 19, 2016, my beautiful little girl was given the diagnosis of autism.
I want to say that I was in disbelief, that I was taken back by this but the reality is, I already knew. I had known as early as 3 months. A mom just knows. This is not to say that I wasn’t scared or unknowing of what the future would hold for my sweet little girl, it just confirmed what we had known for so long. It confirmed all the doctor appointments, it confirmed her being in Early Intervention since 9 months old because she wasn’t meeting milestones… it confirmed why at 2 years old she hadn’t even said momma yet.
Don’t feel bad for me, don’t feel bad for us. Autism isn’t a curse.
Like many people, I had never really been exposed to anyone with autism. I had my preconceived notions of what an autistic individual would look like, what someone with Special Needs would look like.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it and say that it is not hard, I wouldn’t go even as far as saying that anyone would wish for their child to be autistic. Because reality is, my daughter will face many challenges in life. However, what I will say is that my thoughts on what autism looked like was completely wrong.
Have you ever met someone who is so persistent and determined? Have you ever met someone with such joy for life, that you even get a little jealous? Have you ever met someone who turns can’t into can? Have you ever seen a 2 year old know how to work an iPad better than you can? Have you ever met someone that has changed your whole world for the better? Have you ever met someone that can light up a room with just a smile? Well, I have. She is my daughter. She has autism. She is nonverbal. She is a fighter.
This is what autism looks like for us.
In just 3 short years, I have learned so much but I guess what has been the most important is don’t take everything for granted. We as humans tend to take for granted things that come easy to us. These things can include but are not limited to sitting, walking, talking, communicating, looking at someone directly, answering to our name, stacking blocks, feeding ourselves, dressing ourselves, waving… I mean the list goes on and on. For my daughter, all these are a struggle. But with the right therapies, teachers, doctors, etc… she is getting there. She may have to work harder but she is getting there. Every accomplishment no matter how minuscule it may seem is a celebration for us. Another milestone checked off the list.
April is such an important month because it brings awareness to Autism. While I wish everyday brought awareness, this isn’t a reality. However, the reality is that more and more children are being diagnosed with autism everyday.
My wish is (if you got this far) that you educate yourselves. You ask questions. You laugh and cry with me. I ask that if you see someone at a store with a child that you feel is unruly that you don’t judge because you just really don’t know the situation. I ask that if you see a child who is stimming or has tics that you don’t stare, point, and/or laugh. I ask that if you see a child with no shoes and socks on in negative degree weather you don’t make remarks, they may have sensory issues. I just ask that you treat everyone the same, everyone equally, and most of all everyone with respect.
I know someday my daughter is going to do big things in life. I know deep in my heart that she will make people think differently if she hasn’t already. I know that her voice will be heard even if she can’t vocalize it.
April may just be a month but this month signifies so much more. It signifies support and acceptance of Autism.
I just hope that someday everyone will be on board and that everyone will embrace different because once you do so, a whole new world opens up to you.
And what a beautiful world it is.
Light it up Blue 