World Autism Acceptance Day

        Emily and Mary Ann giving "five"

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. I want to encourage acceptance of all individuals with autism. I also want acceptance for the parents who are raising those with special needs. 

As the mama of a child with autism, I feel connections with other special needs parents. We have an automatic bond. It's like being a member of a country club except the only swimming being done is to keep from sinking. There's no golf balls being hit because clubs can become weapons in our homes. There's no relaxing in our club. We are just in it for support. There is also no membership fees and automatic acceptance. It's a really cool club nobody wants to be in. 

My friend Mark, is a single dad raising a teenage daughter with severe autism. Emily and Mary Ann attended the same school for a year before Mary Ann transferred to Glenwood, a school specifically for autism. We are on spring break this week, so I offered to come over and sit with Mary Ann to give Mark a break so he could go to the grocery store. Yes that's a break. Emily was very excited to go to their house. While they are miles apart on the spectrum their similarities are what make us a club within a club. Both girls started their periods a week apart. We have both gotten some good laughs at each other going through that. Humor is the only way we survive sometimes. Humor and acceptance that we have to handle things differently. What works for one might not work for the other. Accepting that offer of help when needed. Acceptance into a cool club nobody wants to belong to, but making the most out of the membership. 

Thanks for reading~

Jessica