1. MY AUTISTICSON HASTAUGHT ME SO MUCH
Raisinga childwithspecial needshasbeenalife-changingevent,andhasaltered me forever.Ifeel that
G-d chose me to be my son’s mom,and I feel bothhonoredandtrulyblessedtobe takingcare of his
special soul.
I’msharingthispersonal storyabouthow true acceptance of these special childrencanmake a positive
difference - greaterthanyoucan everimagine!
A couple of weeks ago,Istartedout my dayat a medical clinic,andwasawaitingmyturnfor the doctor,
togetherwithabout10 otherpeople.We all satonchairs againstthe walls,summingeachotherupout
of the cornerof our eyes,as humanstendto doin these types of situations.
Afterwaitingforabout40 minutes,Ibecame aware of a father,givingverycleardirectionstohischild.
The robotic mannerinwhichhe spoke tohis child,pulledatmyinsides.AndIknew withcertaintythat
he was talkingtoa childwithspecial needs.The childcouldonlymake one strange sound - he was
clearlynon-verbal.Itbecame apparenttome that the fatherwastryingto keephischildawayfromthe
hallwayinwhichwe were sitting,ashe didn’twanthissonbotheringanyone.He chose a roomfurther
downthe hallway,inisolation. Perhapstoo,he feltanelementof shame orembarrassmentregarding
hisson’sspecial needs.
I got a brief glimpse of hischild - ahandsome little boy,who,asmostchildrendo, washavingdifficulty
waitingforhisappointment.
Accordingto hisdad's instructions,almosteverythingwasoff limits.
I couldn'thelpmyself - Ijusthad to getup and go meetthislittle boy.Myheartwentoutto bothfather
and son,as I understoodwhatthismomentwaslike forthem.AsIgot up and walkedtowardsthe room
theywere in,myeyeswere stingingwithtears.
I approachedthem,andtoldthe dad I reallywantedtomeethisson.He lookedatme withcuriosityand
uncertainty.WhenIexplainedthatItoo have a son withspecial needs,he immediatelyrelaxed.We
suddenlywere connectedthroughthe same challenges,whichonlyaparentwitha special needschild
can understand.We belongedtothe same club.
I bentdownto be level withhisson,lookedintohiseyes,andofferedmyhandingreeting.Ifeltthis
little boyconnectwithme ashe lookedintomyeyes(noeasyfeatfora childwithAutism),andhanded
me a squashedupbusinesscard.Ismiledandtalkedverygentlytothe boy,wholike hisdad,became
more relaxedandcomfortable.Itoldhimhe wasbeautiful andthankedhimforthe card.
Upon beingacknowledged,andACCEPTED,the little boycame tolife andstartedto make hiswaydown
the hallway.Thistime,hisfatherallowedhimthe space.The boystartedreachingouttothe other
people,whorespondedtohimindifferentways.He keptofferingthe same squashedupbusinesscard
to the seatedpatientswaitinginthe hall way.He evenreachedoutforone lady'shand,andshe stoodup
to walkwithhim.
Suddenly the strange soundthateveryonehadheardjusta shortwhile ago,developedaface anda
personality.The atmosphere becamevisiblyrelaxed.The fatherdidn'ttryso hard to keepthe sonaway
fromeveryone.The littleboywassmilinghappily,makinghiswayfrompersontoperson.He wasno
longeran outsider,butrathera part of thishallwayof humanity.Ifeltveryemotional aswell as
incrediblysad,butrealizedthatinjustbeingmyself,havinglearnedwhat myownsonhastaught me, I
had made a positive difference.SolelythroughACCEPTANCEthe little boywasable tobe histrue self
withoutconfinesof social stigmas.Whathadstartedout as an isolatingexperience,became asocial
one,inspite of hislimitedabilitytotalk.
I rememberhowwhenbeforeIhadmy child, Iusedto feel incrediblyuncomfortable aroundspecial
needspeople,and inmydiscomfort,wasinclinedto turnmy head awayfrom themandfocus on
somethingelse.Now,Ifindmyself drawntothese childrenlikeamagnet.Everyencounterwiththem,is
an emotional experience forme.