| If you read any research on autism or autism | | | | different with our son from a very young age. I |
| spectrum disorders, there is a large increase in | | | | am not saying it has been easy. In fact his early |
| the number of diagnosed cases. Since that is true, | | | | years were very challenging. We couldn't change |
| there is more funding to the schools to provide | | | | his routine suddenly or start a vacuum close by. |
| support and more and more family doctors are | | | | He had a hard time playing with other children and |
| educating themselves. This means children can be | | | | the noises he made or the way he spun around |
| diagnosed at an earlier age and start getting | | | | or hopped around made other kids a little |
| support or help at a younger age. I think that it's | | | | uncomfortable. I have felt the stares from other |
| good that our society is doing more research into | | | | moms when he would have a melt down in the |
| the different causes, and possible treatments. I | | | | middle of the grocery store. I wouldn't change him |
| think the danger is that in the meantime, there | | | | for anything. He is eight now and has some |
| are a lot of people trying to sell a lot of | | | | friends who like him the way he is. He started the |
| unfounded theories. If you check the web there | | | | year at a kindergarten reading level and now he is |
| are promises of cures for autistic children. I have | | | | at a grade 2 level. |
| two problems with that: | | | | His love of rock music and metal music makes |
| 1) If there is no one single cause, you can't claim | | | | him different from the kids his age. He has told |
| a cure. | | | | me every day since he was four that he will have |
| 2) Autistic children don't need to be fixed. | | | | his own band when he's a teenager. He knows he |
| Like my son, many autistic children need | | | | needs to be able to read and print his own music. |
| occupational, physical and even speech and | | | | On his own, he plays his acoustic guitar and sings |
| language therapy intervention. They need help to | | | | every day because he is teaching himself to play |
| improve their motor skills, coordination and | | | | by ear. He always reads his books at home |
| language comprehension. My son gets all of this. | | | | because he knows it will help learn to read his |
| However, it doesn't change who he is. It makes it | | | | own songs when he starts his band. |
| easier for him to understand and maybe to be | | | | He also voluntarily works on his spelling and |
| understood. My son isn't broken. Autistic children | | | | printing by making up the names of his albums |
| aren't broken. They don't need to be "cured" or | | | | and making up his own songs. My son looks to |
| "fixed". They are different, but different doesn't | | | | music as an outlet and a safety zone. Autistic |
| mean bad. I believe that my son's uniqueness and | | | | children all have their fixations and their talents. |
| autistic talents in music and art should be | | | | The secret is to help them channel those |
| celebrated. In fact, all autistic children should be | | | | interests in good ways. They need support and |
| celebrated. | | | | love and understanding. They don't need to be |
| My husband and I knew there was something | | | | fixed or cured. |