YOU ARE AMAZING, AUTISM MAKES THINGS SHINE

 

“Autistic people should not be considered inadequate, they are just different”

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. This day is especially important for me and my loved ones. The fact that now every hundredth person in the UK has autism is not a dry statistic for me. My emotions are attached to it!

Until a few years ago, I knew nothing about autism, except for a set of some stereotypes: eccentric loners, geniuses-sociopaths, who avoid eye contact and are silent.

MY INTERACTION WITH AUTISM

When I noticed my neighbor’s daughter (Nora) has autism. I remember this awful feeling when I could not hold back tears on the playground, watching a Nora-age girl point her finger to the sky and shout to her mom: “Look, the airplane!”. But Nora was unable to convey her message.

I secretly wiped away my tears and looked at her. The little shiny eyes that have a lot to say but her mind and tongue were not supporting her.

I remained upset for a few days. This incident developed my interest in this field. I became curious and wanted to know more about autism. I started reading about the symptoms of autism: problems with social interaction and communication, circling and walking on tiptoe, limited interests.

My interest in this field was developing day by day and finally, I decided to take a diploma course in Special Education, I would proudly say that to measure the success of our societies, we should examine how well the people with autism are because they are integrated as full and valued members.

ACCEPT THE CONDITION 

At first, parents notice that their child is lagging behind in development, that he is not like the others. Already at this stage, it is not easy for them. Your life will certainly be different. Remember! this is not the end, but the beginning of a new path: complex, difficult, but interesting.

Not all parents accept at once – I have seen many parents with tears in their eyes said: “What?? HE HAS NOTHING.” Or: “DON’T SAY THAT WORD ‘AUTISM’ IN FRONT OF ME.” I know as a parent, you don’t want to accept these types of things. But we must immediately make it clear that autism exists, and this is not questioned and devalued. But keep in mind this is not a severe thing. I see people with autism as a bright thread in the rich tapestry of life.

“Though devastating at first, Autism isn’t the end of the world. It’s the beginning of a whole new one.”

 

Accept that you need constant psychological help, you are not a robot and you need rest, you simply have to be distracted from the problems of autism from time to time and do something that is not related to it. “Your child needs a healthy and happy mother” is not just a beautiful phrase. Without parents, a child with autism is literally doomed.

I always say that the community of parents of children with autism is one of the most important achievements of modern mankind. Doctors, special educators, and numerous applied specialists would never have achieved such results if not for the willpower and desire of parents.

PATIENCE AND TACT 

Throughout my interaction with autism and neurodiversity, I learned that it is all about patience and tact. So on Autism Awareness Day, you should pay attention to this simple fact – a child with autism understands everything and hears everything, and talking about him dismissively or pointing out his weaknesses, cause a huge trauma to the child.

He experiences everything he hears alone, deep in himself, but he cannot share his experiences with loved ones. He just realizes that something is wrong with him, and, apparently, this is a shame.

That is why you should not say (as far as possible) in the presence of your child the word “autism” – until he grows up to the realization that “autism” is not something bad, for which he is to blame, that associated with negativity and judgment. Your one harsh word can leave a negative impact on the and personality of your child.

 

On April 2, they talk a lot about what autism is, how the support of people with this diagnosis in different countries is arranged, they certainly talk about brilliant scientists, musicians, and actors with autism.

“Autism doesn’t have to define a person. Artists with autism are like anyone else: They define themselves through hard work and individuality.”

-Adrienne Bailon, Artist

Please be patient with our children, respect them as individuals, respect their right to a dignified life.

HOW TO REACT?

Throughout my whole career in this field, I have noticed that the attitude of a child towards peers with developmental disabilities is determined by how adults treat them. Children often copy our behavior and attitude towards special people here is no exception. If an adult is friendly and shows respect for other children, then the children around him will behave the same way. Remember: with your behavior, you shape your child’s attitude towards others.

Here I will suggest to you that it is very important to talk to children about mental and physical disabilities. After all, despite the peculiarities, we have more in common than differences!

Don’t get upset! Your child is your treasure! Spend more time with him/her.

Keep supporting me to educate as many people as possible about autism.

The “magic pill” for autism has not yet been invented.

To conclude, I would like to say that autistic children will need support generalizing what they learn in therapy sessions to their everyday lives.

The problem with autism in our society is the unwillingness to accept and treat these children normally. They need support in order to live fully realizing their capabilities, to cope with difficult social tasks for them. They need recognition and acceptance of their characteristics as much as you and I, but many of the people with autism simply cannot live with dignity without this support.

Children with autism or neurodiversity are angels who lost their way to heaven and fell on earth. Together, parents, doctors, and teachers are helping these angels to survive in this world successfully!