Autism is something others need to understand. Unless someone is severely autistic, autism is not always obvious to the untrained eye. What is needed from others is understanding, and a different mindset. I was listening to a podcast recently of a family whose daughter was recently diagnosed with autism. In the beginning her family were trying to fix her, but the more they learned about her autism, they knew she would never be fixed.
Happy to Help Her Grow
Her family's attitude have now changed and they are all on board, happy to help her grow and thrive with autism and to learn how they can play their part to help her.
Autism and 'being different'
Those of us who have autism may never go through the stages of grief, denial, anger or sadness, all we know is that we're different. But what is needed is patience, understanding, empathy, and a willingness to want to help us.
Empathy is something I seem to have plenty of, which is probably why I can easily connect with people like my niece who deals with Asperger's.
Personally, I have always struggled to fit in; growing up with the way people treated me, I felt just like the Elephant Man. Being extremely sensitive and intelligent weren't good qualities to have, which is probably why I relate to the Sheldon Cooper character so well.
I spent a lifetime trying to fit in to groups, but in the end I didn't fit into any of them. It would be great if everyone tried to be more inclusive to others who are labeled as 'different' but it always seems to be such a struggle for them.
We can only do our part to help them to understand how we work and pray for the best so that they can at least try to help us out when they can.
Thanks Randy. Yes, I hear you. I am sure like me, school was the place you struggled the most. There is nothing wrong with being sensitive, gender shouldn't come into it.
For those of us with a physical or mental disability, our struggles are evident. But the world would look and feel different if we all came together, regardless of who we are and what we deal with.
I understand how your niece feels. Perhaps given the pandemic, it is time we all come together and feeling 'different' as you say, would be a thing of the past.
Your last paragraph is above all what people really need to understand, we need empathy and patience.
We also need education, because we've been ignorant about autism and other disabilities for a very long time, it's time to change that.
Thanks Tim. Yes, you're right, without the education and we're not talking about a formal education, we're talking about putting ourselves out to help and understand others, including those with a disability like autism.
It's us giving back... just wanting to help others. As you say rightly say, we have for the most part ignored people with disabilities. I also believe it is time for us to change.