Touched by Autism
Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 6:55AM 
I've got a few topics swirling in my head. I guess it would help if I posted more often... At least there would be no swirling because I'd be emptying my brain on a regular basis! So I'm going to empty gradually, I hope, and start with the most important first.
As you may know, April is Autism Awareness month. This month has a great deal of significance to my family because of my beloved daughter K3.
If you've never met K3, you're missing out on one of the best experiences of your life. She's shy, genuine, sweet, a lover of animals and blessed with a fabulous sense of humor. In spite of her autism, she totally gets Monty Python and Mel Brooks and can recite huge chunks of dialog from many of their movies. She gives awesome hugs and listening to her laugh is one of my greatest joys. It's the kind of laugh that pulls you right in and makes your lungs clench (mine anyway) from laughing with her!
Yes, it's been a tough path. And I spent years learning what she needed and how to advocate for her and disputing the opinions of the "experts" when they didn't jive with my maternal radar. But I wouldn't change a thing. Being K3's mom has enriched my life in ways I couldn't have imagined and frankly don't know how to express to you. It's just good. And it's created a bond between the two of us that feels unbreakable.
I tell you all this for a reason. Autism continues to touch our family's life.
My little Benny, my grandbaby is now recieving therapy for autisum. That my friends, is a damn hard sentence to type.
It has awakened many of the feelings I had when K3 first started developmental therapy. And I see the path K1, Benny's mama is going to walk with him. I feel protective, empathetic and at the same time powerless. There's nothing I can do to alter the journey they're about to take. It is what it is.
But I know what it isn't. It isn't genetic, it isn't due to vaccines, it isn't about glutton or vitamins or allergies. We don't know what causes autism. We just know it's effects. And we know they vary child to child.
K1 has the advantage of watching K3's journey. That's more than a lot of parents of newly diagnosed autistic toddlers have. She also has the support of her family and friends as well as any resources I can get her as part of my job at a disability agency.
As part of autism awareness month, I encourage you to learn what you can, read, reach out, donate... whatever works for you. Because you never know who is going to be touched by autism.
AG out
advocate, autsim in Advocating, Babies, Disability, Grandmothering 
Reader Comments (6)
I'm glad that your daughter and grandson have such a wonderful woman in their lives. Hugs to you all!
Thank you for your honesty and courage. I wish you and your family all the best.
K3 is a smart cookie and she has you and the rest of the family ... sending hugs .. he is one amazing little guy
duh... I know K3 is a smart cookie, but I meant K1 ...
Honey, I just don't know what to say. I adored meeting K3 & we admittedly had a great time at dinner at The Buccaneer that night. K3 is a hoot and one of the sweetest personalities ever.
Maybe you all just need to move down here to Texas where we know how to fund those programs for Autism. Really, I was just reading about it in the paper here last week & was amazed by the funding they get here, statewide. I can't help but wonder why it isn't the same in all states. Perhaps because we have a higher population here, thus more advocates seeking help. If the state is going to fund all the disabled, then let it be fairly distributed amongst the various agencies, right?
You'd probably hate living here but I'd welcome you & the whole fam any time, any day.
When our son was diagnosed w/ ADHD there were no programs to help & he was made to feel like a lesser person in school as well as sports. Now, of course, that has all changed but the damage was already done to our son. No erasing that. Just when you think we live in a modern world, you realize there are still so many areas where help is still needed & it has nothing to do with making people feel better about the cars they drive or studying the effects of our environment on some lizard in the desert. I say people come first & I stand by that.
Hugs to all of you, including the kooky Brute Squad!!
Wow. just, Wow. K1 certainly has to find you and her sister to be her silver lining. Love and hugs to you all.