My Son is Autistic - Not Broken
If you read any research on autism or autism spectrum disorders, there is a large increase in the number of diagnosed cases. Since that is true, there is more funding to the schools to provide support and more and more family doctors are educating themselves. This means children can be diagnosed at an earlier age and start getting support or help at a younger age.
by Meghan FrenchLooking for something else?
I think that it's good that our society is doing more research into the different causes, and possible treatments. I think the danger is that in the meantime, there are a lot of people trying to sell a lot of unfounded theories. If you check the web there are promises of cures for autistic children. I have two problems with that:
- If there is no one single cause, you can't claim a cure.
- Autistic children don't need to be fixed.
Like my son, many autistic children need occupational, physical and even speech and language therapy intervention. They need help to improve their motor skills, coordination and language comprehension. My son gets all of this. However, it doesn't change who he is. It makes it easier for him to understand and maybe to be understood. My son isn't broken. Autistic children aren't broken. They don't need to be "cured" or "fixed". They are different, but different doesn't mean bad. I believe that my son's uniqueness and autistic talents in music and art should be celebrated. In fact, all autistic children should be celebrated.
My husband and I knew there was something different with our son from a very young age. I am not saying it has been easy. In fact his early years were very challenging. We couldn't change his routine suddenly or start a vacuum close by. He had a hard time playing with other children and the noises he made or the way he spun around or hopped around made other kids a little uncomfortable.
I have felt the stares from other moms when he would have a meltdown in the middle of the grocery store.
I wouldn't change him for anything. He is eight now and has some friends who like him the way he is. He started the year at a kindergarten reading level and now he is at a grade 2 level.
His love of rock music and metal music makes him different from the kids his age. He has told me every day since he was four that he will have his own band when he's a teenager. He knows he needs to be able to read and print his own music. On his own, he plays his acoustic guitar and sings every day because he is teaching himself to play by ear. He always reads his books at home because he knows it will help learn to read his own songs when he starts his band.
He also voluntarily works on his spelling and printing by making up the names of his albums and making up his own songs. My son looks to music as an outlet and a safety zone. Autistic children all have their fixations and their talents. The secret is to help them channel those interests in good ways. They need support and love and understanding. They don't need to be fixed or cured.
