Autism is Autism

When we were going through the evaluation process and even after The Boy's Autism diagnosis, many people told me to be grateful that it's only Autism.  At one point, I was told that I should get over autism because it wasn't anything The Boy "could die from."  As if Autism was no biggie.  Because, after all, The Boy - with the exception of Autism - was healthy.


It's easy to feel guility.  I think it's expected.    


A few weeks ago I met a father named "Jimmy" and his son "Junior" after a therapy session.  We were getting ready to leave and they were walking in.  Jimmy held Junior's hand tightly, helped Junior remove his shoes and socks.  Junior flapped his hands just like The Boy.  I started talking to Jimmy about school placement, therapies and my frustrations with the Board of Education.


"We caught it early - 18 months.  And he's come a long way but Junior don't talk.  I have an older son - he's normal you know.  It be nice if they could play like brothers," Jimmy told me.


My husband walked in and The Boy immediately smiled and said "Hey Dad!"  The Boy was especially talkative that afternoon.  I looked over at Jimmy and I remember wishing The Boy would be quiet.  Our children were the same age.  Mine could speak.  His could not.  I felt ashamed comparing our situations.


Because in some way - we had it easier.  The Boy can't carry on a spontaneous back and forth conversation.  I can't ask him what he had for lunch and have him tell me.  I can't ask him who he played with today.  But The Boy could tell me if he were hungry, if he had to go to the bathroom - if he wanted a particular book or toy.  Who the hell was I to think that I could relate to Jimmy?

That same week, I read a post by Hartley Steiner "Comparison is Dangerous." If you haven't read it - you should.  No - You MUST.  Steiner writes: 

Comparison is a dangerous thing. Yes, keeping life in perspective is a good thing, or at least it should be, but comparing your life to another’s is bad.

Our lives don’t compare to others – those that appear to have things ‘easier’ than we do and those that appear to have things ‘worse’ than we do.

Pain is pain.  Struggle is struggle.  It doesn't have to be a certain amount to qualify as 'enough'.

image: Dan/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Steiner's post put things in perspective and validated everything I have been feeling.  Autism is an invisible disability, easy to dismiss.  As a spectrum disorder there are many variations: low functioning, high functioning; verbal, non-verbal; aspergers, autism, PDD.  But I hate labels. Don't you? 

Autism is Autism.   

And we're still on the same side of the fence.