He was phenomenal. He looked incredible in his costume that I made for him. He knew every word of every line. He didn’t falter once. He didn’t freak out over the crowd or the noise or the flashes of the camera. Last night was a night I never thought would happen after his diagnosis of autism shortly before he turned three.
Self-advocates discuss the kinds of messages that they received about sex while growing up and whether they feel that they get the necessary supports to have romantic relationships.
I began to “presume competence” rather than make assumptions on face value.
I have learned over the years to ignore and persevere. I spent years in the classroom with people that talked with their voice to communicate while I sat alone and typed one paragraph at a time. Typing and communicating are the same.
Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Do it your way in your own time on your terms. Remember you can be anything you want to be, you may just have to do it a little differently in order to fulfill your dreams. Dream big and let the sky be the limit.
Anyone who can read body language in general can learn to read the body language of autistic people who send cues that way, even really unusual cues that have nothing to do with the neurotypical ones. It takes work, but it can be done.
Being on the autism spectrum to me was at one point in time a defining characteristic of who I am. It is not anymore.
Autistic is not a swear word. It is a beautiful word, a name for an identity that represents an entire group of people who are diverse in their personalities, characters, abilities, and deficits.
My youngest brother Jonathan has evolved into a gifted runner and a tremendous athlete. He’s an amazingly inspiring marathon runner who shows me strength and courage everyday… and oh yea, he happens to be autistic.
I quietly watch all of society believe that we are empty space – what we really are, is full with intelligence.
