I never in a million years thought the month of April would hit so close to home! In November 2019, our son was officially diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Children with autism may not always act the exact same way. In fact, just like any neurotypical child, you will see that they are people with special skills and challenges. Like any human being, children with autism want to be accepted and understood. When people think of autism, they automatically think there’s some sort of physical feature that displays they’re autistic. I frequently hear “I couldn’t tell your son is autistic, he doesn’t look like it!” I personally have witnessed that children with autism face many challenges and obstacles. That’s why it’s super important, not only for a child with special needs parents BUT for everyone in their lives to take the time to understand what they’re dealing with.
It’s obvious that I have 4 other children that are not autistic. My husband and I have already set examples for our oldest daughter. Of course, she does not fully understand the whole thing, but she does understand that Jeremiah is “different”. She knows that God created all people differently and that we are all special in our own kind of way. We continuously encourage her to be patient and respect the fact that Jeremiah sometimes requires additional help. By doing, so she will learn empathy & compassion. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “Treat others the way you would want to be treated”. Such a cliché phrase but definitely one that everyone should live by. Even though she’s young, she understands exactly what that means. Although we haven’t come out and said “Xiomara, your brother has autism.” She instinctively knows that he’s “still learning”. I will slowly introduce her to challenges faced by people with special needs …
The easiest way to do this is by reading. I’m thrilled to know that there are finally more authors releasing books about children with special needs. Not only are they educational for kids but for adults as well. Here are a few of my favorite books that focus on children with special needs:
- My Brother Charlie
- I’ll Walk With You
- Autism is my Super Power
- Quinten Visits the Beach: A Story About Coping with Autism
Regardless, if you’re affiliated with someone with autism or any other special need, I urge you to teach any child you may be around about kindness & acceptance. Teaching kids these attributes at a young age will be a huge highlight later in their life. Continue to #LightItUpBlue Until next time …
