Today is World Autism Awareness Day with the entire month of April devoted to raising awareness of autism. With a 1-in-88 statistic I’m not sure how any of us isn’t aware of autism, but what I hope for more than raising awareness is to raise the level of acceptance and understanding. As a family we’ve lived with Cody’s autism for nearly fifteen years, but there are times when it still feels very lonely. He will be an adult at the end of this year and that brings about many new concerns and challenges and in many ways it feels like we will be navigating through much of it alone. By that I mean that having a child Cody’s age on the autism spectrum sometimes feels more uncommon than those with younger kiddos. I’m truly grateful for all of the amazing resources and support available to parents getting a new diagnosis for their child in recent years, but as Cody has gotten older I’m finding there aren’t as many available for teens who will be transitioning into adulthood. Only recently have I begun to find and get to know a few others in my online world who also have teens with autism. It’s a true comfort.
A huge struggle for me, as his Mom, is to allow and encourage him to be his own voice and advocate. I mean, I will always advocate for him, and for other kids with special needs for that matter, but others will look to him when they have questions about his hopes and dreams and rather than answer for him I need to guide and support him through the choices and decisions he makes for his life. In many ways, it’s way more scary than that initial diagnosis fourteen years ago. The bottom line is that I want him to find joy, love, and success in his future – the same as any parent of any child.
You advocacy has helped many understand and support autism. I know you will always be there for Cody and others in need. You can count on me too.:)
Hi Cathy!
As a mom I feel your sacrifices having a special child. I know it’s really hard for you to take care of him. But it’s more harder to see him like that. As much as possible we want our child to be okay. Just continue his therapy. You will see his improvements soon!
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You are a good mom, advocate, and person. Both Cody and Nick are lucky to have you walking along with them as they learn to navigate adult-ish life!
Thanks for sharing your story. I have an autistic cousin and we always treat her as special creature and we love her so much. She is funny t be with and so lovable. They are even more caring than normal ones.
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This is good idea to shear your opinion on the based on practical experience. i hope this site will be helpful to all.
Autism Awareness is crucial for fostering understanding and acceptance of individuals with autism. By spreading knowledge, we can break down stereotypes and senior assisted living facilities support inclusive environments. Education and awareness initiatives help ensure that those with autism receive the respect, opportunities, and support they deserve. Let’s work together to create a more inclusive and compassionate world for everyone.