This Is Supposed To Be Autism Awareness Month...

.... and each year, I wonder exactly what it is we're supposed to be "aware of" ... ??? [image - right - "Autism" by james collins]

There are as many theories about autism as there are dimes and donuts. There are still people who kill, torture, silence, abuse, bully, and/or laugh at another who appears "different." There are still people who love, honor, protect, nourish, and/or practice the art of accepting "differences" in human and non-human wiring. Yes, there are autistic cats, dogs, rabbits, birds. We're not making that up. But, that's for another entry. Today, if we could help others become more "aware" of anything, it would be that a serious reflection of the old adage "you can't judge a book by its cover" is in order.

Annie had a theory that may or may not be so. It was that the image and, frequently, sounds of particular autistic and differently wired individuals evoke a limbic response within us. The reptilian, primitive, baser aspects of ourselves. We watch others as they watch our son, Ben, when he is in deep autistic mode. Often guttural in vocal tone, shaking long strands of grass or a favored "rattling" object, and looking rather primal in his own right. We believe that he acts as a mirror of sorts for others. What others see in him is quite simply a reflection of some of the baser limbic urges within themselves. Just a simple theory for some thought.

Now, we would absolutely love to introduce you to a number of people who are no longer children, but remain quite autistic or challenged in other ways.

All of the people you will meet here were and some still are non-verbal and deeply autistic. All learned to communicate via a process called "facilitated communication." Simply, an alternative communication device, requiring - initially - the touch/guidance of another human being. Most, after years of labor, are able to type or point to words independently and consistently. Most, after proving themselves intelligent and coherent, still battle small minds who refuse to accept that the outward physical constraints presented cannot possibly be equated with cognitive awareness. Most of the people you will meet via the following links were thought to be cognitively retarded. There is no doubt that some people with autism will also present with some mental retardation. But certainly not all and certainly not even a near majority. Books. Covers. Nothing is as it seems.

MEET JAMIE

MEET LARRY











MEET SHARISA






Our Ben - Serious, reflective, thoughtful

And with a BIG BEN GOOFY GRIN! Gotta love those seven-year-old new toofses! Ben will be eight years old in less than a week now. His ability to point and touch letters and keys on various boards is becoming stronger, more consistently reliable, and less painful for him. [He has a sensory integration disorder as well as autism spectrum and that often causes very painful fingertips, so FC is a good option for him. Of course, that's with continued work on spelling. He still prefers to answer questions and respond to things read to him with video or audio clips. It is effective and thought-provoking]

Here's hoping our paths on this Rocky Road are frequently buffered with thoughtful, kind, and loving people [do they seem so rare these days?] and the random soul touches provided by those who are so differently abled.

Until another time --- xo,

Tink and Crew