April is Autism Awareness Month, and today, April 2, is Autism Awareness Day. That might not even be on my radar if I wasn’t the grandmother of two fantastic little boys who have been diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Old timers here might remember praying for our family and our grandson Conner in 2015 when he had heart surgery at Vanderbilt when he was only two months old. He and his older brother Mason are very special, very normal, and very different, but they both face the prospect of a life lived with some challenges that most of us do not have to live with.
Thank you to our regular contributor John Spiropoulos for the awesome video, and for the very informational link at the end of this post. Much appreciated John.
I have commented here numerous times about the horrible effect this past year has had on my grandsons. Last year Conner was in a special and wonderful school for kids with severe learning challenges. He only got two years in it, and almost half of it was cancelled.
The boys missed various therapies such as speech, physical, occupational, and food therapy. Their five hour ABA sessions were cancelled. The summer camps they attended were a big help to the boys, and they were also cancelled.
Autistic kids don’t just catch up next year. Early development is really key for them, and they need constant intensive help in many cases, and they will lose ground that may not be regained without it.
John, thank you for brining to life the struggle these kids and their families have faced this year.
I took this definition from gemiini.org blog and their post on autism awareness, where I also found the picture.
One of the most simple definitions of Autism is:
“A mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts.”
I would add to that definition that autistic people may have sensory processing issues. My oldest grandson is very sensitive to sound and he often wears headphones to protect him. For example, we never thought about the music at mass, which normally isn’t a problem. But at Easter the choir and organist sing and play the organ joyfully celebrating, but at such levels that Mason collapsed to his knees in tears. We had just never thought about it, but even with his headphones, he was unable to stand the music.
Anyhow, all I really wanted to say is this. Parents and caregivers of autistic children have a very challenging and tough job. It is heartbreaking, tiring, humbling, and ass kicking hard. Sometimes something like this happens, and you cannot believe how much it can revitalize and change not just a child, but a mom and dad and family.
Autistic children may be the “brats” you think are throwing a fit. They might be the shy child who is over in the corner. They might be the child who is fixated on the meerkats at the zoo and won’t leave the window so your child can have a turn (yep, that’s Conner) or they may be loud, say socially awkward things, or you may never even know they are around you. Any kindness you extend will make their family’s burden much lighter.
I have closed comments on this post because last year’s post turned into a free for all fight by the pro and con vaccination people, and that is so offensive and off topic. I just hope that today you might spare a moment to say a prayer for those on the spectrum, and those who love them, teach them, work with them, and help them.
I still occasionally get commenters who were around for Conner’s heart surgeries and struggles who ask about him, and I always deeply appreciate that caring and thought. I would ask any who are inclined to continue to remember him in prayer, as well as his older brother. As I said, both are autistic, but Conner faces severe struggles and challenges.
This post was partially taken from last year’s version, and updated, especially with John’s video.
https://nationaltoday.com/world-autism-awareness-day/
