Autism Awareness Month

As I have heard many say and I join them, "It's Autism awareness at my house everyday." 

I always said I would not take a placement with Autism.  I didn't think I was equipped with the necessary skills to successfully parent such a child.  Some days I still feel that way.  I am relieved to say that most parents of children with Autism feel that same way.

Silly Bear came to us at a few weeks old.  He had been born a full term, healthy baby.  The sad part is his birth mom did not have the skills to parent.  She took him home by herself, no support system, no one to turn to.  She lacked the ability to bond to her baby or care for even his basic needs.  Malnutrition caused Silly Bear lung damage and other problems and almost took his life.

Silly Bear struggled medically, including surviving on donated breast milk for the first two years of his life.  His development was delayed with speech totally missing.  Papa Bear and I intended to adopt him from the moment we knew he was free.  We knew we were up to the challenge of whatever this little guy needed.  No one ever said the word Autism in all of the therapy sessions, specialist's appointments, assessments or other visits.  When he was four, it was suggested that he was PDD but he was not diagnosed.  I did not connect PDD and Autism as I had virtually no training in either.  I have now!

Silly Bear talks well.  He is in a mainstream second grade class with help.  He is not reading but is learning sight words and has a desire to read.  He can be very social, which has been to his detriment when being screened for Autism.  He hugs and kisses, though not always appropriately.  He no longer flaps but has his own stemming.  Yet another missing marker in the "diagnosis" process.  (Flapping is expected but lying belly down on the floor with his legs stiffly outstretched and crossed, his hands pushing down on the floor pulsing in rhythm to his own inner need is not.)  He is gangly and silly.  He can read facial expressions on me, one of his teachers, and sometimes one of his siblings.  Again, this has counted against him in receiving a diagnosis. Some people stare and some look sympathetically at him.  He is oblivious to both.   I could go on and on but you get the  picture.

There are frustrations and celebrations everyday in the lives of an Autistic family.  I believe a family living with Autism survives on a sense of humor and lots of prayers.

 There is comfort and validation in sharing a common bond.  This is my mini-account of Autism in my family.  Tell me yours.

Pray for those affected by Autism.