Living with Autism

Autism affects 1 out of 150 children in the United States. 1 out of every 90 boys are likely to be autistic or on the spectrum. Why? Nobody knows, just a lot of speculations. Autism usually affect the first born son.
Some readers know that my son is autistic. When he was 2 years old I suspected he was autistic before we received the official diagnosis from the neuropsychologist. After getting over the confirmed diagnosis of autism, George and I decided we would do whatever we needed to do to allow our son to live a full life. Not our life, but his life however it would be.
Things changed in our home right away. We decided no medication, no vitamins, no chiropractors, nothing that claims to “reverse” autism. How can you reverse something if you don’t know the cause? My son is no guinea pig, or lab rat. Nobody’s hocus-pocus snake oil is getting in my son just for somebody else’s financial gains.
What we did do was to read every book and article on autism. We educated ourselves on autism. We studied and researched day and night for weeks, days, and months. There was no blaming of anyone. No looking for instant cures. No listening to lies published on the internet or in the news. If it wasn’t in the information we researched. We didn’t believe it. My husband and I are college educated people. We knew we had the common sense and knowledge to not be persuaded my media frenzy and other lies circulating about the cause of autism and the so-call cure. Instead, God gave us the wisdom and knowledge we needed to establish our own program.
First we never allowed family or friends tell us how to raise our son. We are so tired of people telling us what new tricks and claims were out there to cure autism. We accepted our son’s diagnosis and learned to live with autism. Autism is not only a disorder it has become a way of life. Next we found out what bothered our son. What colors or sounds triggered bad behaviors, and then we eliminated those things from our life. We play smooth jazz in our home in which our son loves. But most of all we allow our son to learn and progress at his own pace. We don’t push him and we don’t try to make him play sports or fit into social groups just to make him seem “normal.”
George and I noticed than when we allow our son to learn at his own pace. He creates Miracles! Our son will do things we thought he would never do or say things that amaze us. We are so proud of our son and his accomplishments. George quitted in job 6 years ago to home school our son. We are sooo glad we made that choice. It is a minor sacrifice. We live within our means on one pay check. But we are so happy to have him home and safe. No children bullying our son!
Having an autistic child is not having a child with a disorder. It’s a way of life. Having a child with autism has made us better parents and better spouses.