April has been designated “Autism Awareness Month”.
Throughout the month I’m sure there will be all manner of activities, Facebook
posts, tweets, and blog entries about Autism. But I wonder what message the
wider world is really getting.
Recently a waitress tried, without success, to interact with
Noah. She shrugged her shoulders and said, “He is shy I guess.” I smiled and
told her that Noah has Autism and doesn’t really do small talk. Her response
was, “Oh, no! I’m so sorry.” By the gaze she was giving Noah during her
apology, I inferred that she wasn’t sorry she had misunderstood him, but rather
that she was sorry for his Autism.
As difficult as this “disease” is at times, I’m really not
sorry for it. Sure, maybe it is just my version of normal and I don’t know any
different and, therefore, I’m not sorry. Or maybe, just maybe, autism has given
us more than it has ever taken away.
Before you accuse me of looking on the “bright side” of
things, don’t. I’m really not a very “positive” or “up beat” person. Actually,
I typically prepare for the worst possible scenario. It makes me feel better. I
feel more prepared if I imagine the worst outcome and what my response will be.
So when I say that I am honestly not sorry for our “condition,” I really mean
it.
I suppose I feel strongly that I must somehow contribute
this idea to the on-going discussions about living with disabilities. So for
the month of April, I’m going to “light it up blue” with a 30 days of
celebration. Each day I’m going to write one of the things Autism has given us
and made us more human.
Our life isn’t easy…but neither is the life of the
neuro-typical individual, or the genius.
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