Why did we shared my son’s condition to the world?

I have posted about my son’s uniqueness on my previous post (read HERE). I have written that post some years ago, but at that time, I can’t publish it because we are not yet ready.  Hubby and I thought that people will not understand, that even though we explain his condition to others so many times many will still NOT understand.  Well, at the same time we were still overwhelmed and maybe we still DON”T understand what’s happening ourselves.

Now, this year 2013, I have decided to open up. Why? because I thought that the community where my son will be in the future should be educated about the condition.  My son is trying hard to adjust with what the community is expecting for him to do and act, but because of the condition, it is very challenging for him. I thought that the community (since it is bigger) should also adjust to the kids which are like him so that they can meet half way.  And that can be achieved if the people in a community will understand the condition more.

Also, the more people who understand the situation, the more these children can live their lives to the fullest.  Besides, I think that God made these children to teach typical people valuable lessons that they might have ignored for some time.  Kids with these condition are innocent, very honest and carefree.

They can see what other typical people can’t.  Albert Einstein who was speculated  to have Asperger syndrome or the high functioning kind of autism was the one who discovered the general theory of relativity.  Temple Grandin who also have Autism, was the one who invented the humane livestock handling processes, which promotes improvement of the standards in slaughter plants and livestock farms. Without them, the world will not be the same.

Unlike, kids with Down Syndrome that can be identified physically, kids with autism cannot be identified until you observed them for a long time.  I have noticed that people are more compassionate with children with Down Syndrome or even with kids with cerebral palsy, but are judgmental to the parents with kids with autism.  I once almost got into a fight when we were strolling at the mall and my son had tantrums, people stared at me and showed me the look that I am a bad mom because I let my kids cry out to his lungs.

Here in the Philippines, a lot of people are not yet that educated about this condition.  At school, I heard kids laugh at other kids who they think are weird, and even called them “special” or “autistic” even though they are not. The TERM was used to make fun with other people and that really hurts me.

So, from now on you will read more post about my son’s condition here and some tips that I have learned on how to deal with it, also some inspiring stories from other parents with unique kids and many more….

For the meantime, read this post to know how important early intervention for kids with neuro development conditions: http://mommylevy.com/2012/04/how-important-is-early-intervention-in.html