Our Autism

It has become more complicated to write in recent months because my adult children, as you know, are still, and always be, children in many ways. Therefore, it doesn’t leave a lot of idle time. However, sometimes someone is so inextricably misguided, I just can’t help my fingers on the keyboard. I think we are all in agreement that RFK Jr. is about as capable of running the Health and Human Services Department of the Government as Dr. Oz is, wait, bad analogy, but most of us agree that him serving in this role is beyond ridiculous. Yet, and I cannot believe I am saying this, he said some truths. I have a severe, nonverbal son with autism that will never have a job, hit a baseball, or pay his own taxes. Yet, this child, Mr. Secretary did not “destroy our family”, he built it. And this family is strong and loving and kind. Does John having severe nonverbal autism make him less than the autist that writes poetry and goes to college? I should hope not. Autism is a wide and complicated spectrum. It is a rich and diverse community. Many speak and live independently and lead meaningful lives. And many don’t and yet, they still live happy, fulfilling lives. Two things can be true. John, our autistic son, has been one of the greatest joys of my life, and a gift to all that have had the privilege of knowing and loving him. He is not a burden we bear, he is a wonderful, fun loving, gem of a human to this world. He has changed lives for the better just by existing in this universe. Is it really fucking hard? Yes, it is hard. But lots of things in life are hard. Hard is not the problem, ignorance is. Our son is a human being with severe nonverbal autism. He is as deserving of love and acceptance as any other human on this planet. Likely, he will never hold a full-time job, yet many that have met him have changed their careers and their life goals to work with children/young adults like him. He is not a disease to be cured. He is a young man, that whatever his vulnerabilities are, do not mean that he is not entitled to a fulfilling and wonderful life. And I can guarantee that life will happen, because I am his mother.