When we brought my seven-year-old stepdaughter with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to the hospital to see her new baby sister, her eyes filled with awe. She sat gently at the foot of the bed, somewhat afraid to touch the wriggling squeaker in daddy’s arms. Throwing glances to my now-deflated belly and back to the wrapped… Continue Reading
“What’s his autism?” asks my son, whom I’ll call Caleb, as we are packing his bag for swim team practice. He’s talking about a school friend who, like him, is on the spectrum. “What do you think it is?” “Well,” he says, “he gets frustrated when the schedule changes, just like I used to.” “So… Continue Reading
Every year, my son’s aide makes me a Father’s Day card. She carefully cuts, colors, and shakily writes out “Happy Father’s Day” with what I assume is her non-dominant hand. Then she signs his name and sends it home. When it’s given to me, I offer a huge smile and ask, “Lucas! Did you make… Continue Reading
He needs to learn to order his own food—something that is easy for most, but not easy for him. So you drive up to a fast food restaurant and roll down his window. He orders. The drive-up server does not understand him. She asks him to repeat. You have to prompt him. He repeats his… Continue Reading
Sometimes life is too much. I feel this way. Of course, she feels this way too. How am I supposed to instill in my girl a capacity for dignity and self-respect, while I also acknowledge her requisite burden of crippling unease? I must be her example. I’m duty-bound to set a precedent. Not always sure… Continue Reading
Autism is easy to misunderstand, misinterpret, and mislead. My son is the master of disguise, and the best way to understand our kids is to assume nothing. That is, assume only that they are kids, children, teens—silly, loving, intelligent—and, well, simply put, no different than any other kid. Everything I have been told about autism… Continue Reading
My son, Colin, blows me away every day. He is 28 years old and was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at a young age—back when the relatively unknown syndrome was still stuck in a cul-de-sac of uncertainty. Now, Asperger’s syndrome is everywhere—in mainstream TV, movies, comic books, and scores of blogs and websites. We spent Colin’s… Continue Reading
My name is James Link. I am 21 years old and was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) twice. My mom wanted these two different diagnoses so we would be better able to plan for my education and future. The diagnostic process was very different both times. My mom suspected that I had autism because… Continue Reading
People seemed to freeze in their movements as my son, Frankie, ran through the parking lot screaming “Nooo!” I avoided eye contact and hurried to catch him before we provided the store’s entertainment for the day. I tried not to show fear and kept a straight face as I hurried to catch him. If I… Continue Reading
I’m not a supermom, but I get that a lot. Having a child with autism does not make me one. Please let me be weak and cry, let me make mistakes and let my guard down, and let me just be a mom, a wife, and a woman—not a “super” someone. The day my son… Continue Reading