Inside Snapshots
When individuals with autism describe the challenges they encounter and when they take time to express their frustration about reactions of other people, we get inside snapshots that help us gain perspective on this complex maze called autism.
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DISCUSSION (1) A teen-aged student who describes himself as being “on the Autism Spectrum” sent a message saying “I feel like I am two people in one. I am myself at school, but, when I come in range of my mom, I put on this ‘I am normal act.’ She scolds me for rocking. I wish I could find someone to talk to her and tell her how I feel about it.”
(2) A high school student who didn’t feel that she had any friends in her “regular education” classes said, “My autism just gets in the way all the time.”
(3) An elementary student who was corrected frequently for raising his hand too often in class and in school assemblies was unable to understand why he was called to the principal’s office. The young student, who viewed the world through the literal, “black and white” lens of autism, was mystified by the negative reaction of the teachers and by their scolding him for raising his hand. “The only reason I keep raising my hand is because I have real questions to ask. What is wrong with that?”
(4) An adult with autism said it seemed that her family never quit mourning the fact that she wasn’t “normal” and that they were always trying to “make her better” instead of just loving her as she was.
(5) A mother of a youngster with autism said, “I hope he doesn’t think we just view him as a collection of symptoms.”
(6) A middle-aged adult functioning on the spectrum of autism said, “Having autism is like a being a tapestry. You’re really just lots of different threads woven together. Some people don’t like the looks of the tapestry, and they notice all the holes and imperfections and bumps – they want everything to be perfect and smooth. Other people look at the whole thing and see a beautiful tapestry.”
May we all take time to nurture relationships so we can understand different viewpoints and may we all remember to celebrate the beauty of the tapestry.
NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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