I just watched a commercial for an investment company that had a father telling the interviewer that he has a young son with autism. He continued with the fact that he will most likely need to be financially responsible for him throughout his son’s life. The most important message he shared was that he loves his son for who he is and wouldn’t change him for the world.
As a parent of a 30 year old son with autism, having these messages shared on commercial TV for the vast public to hear is so incredibly valuable. It instills the hope and a commitment families need to have for their sons and daughters life journey. For my son, we are a generation one step past the common practice to institutionalize children with autism (and other developmental disabilities). It has been a worthy and at times exasperating effort, that I would commit to over and over again for him. It does make me appreciate the work and sacrifice that people before me made when I look back in history at the plight of woman’s suffrage and the civil rights movement.
My hope for the next generation of folks with (classic) autism is acceptance and a welcoming community of schools, community life, knowledgeable healthcare providers and trained service providers….we will get there!!! In the meantime, it’s one-step at a time and commercials like the one I saw this evening will be a positive influence.