Autism in the News

I’m scared to comment. I’m scared to share.

Autism is in the news right now. And I keep thinking…

There has to be an in-between space right now.

If you are anything like me, this polar extremism makes me want to hide. And stay silent.

I’m scared to comment. I’m scared to share. Like it’s a minefield and I don’t want to misstep.

My son Cooper is 14 years old. Eleven years ago, we heard the words...

Severe Nonverbal Autism.

Boy, it about broke me. And yes, for anyone wondering, we knew it was coming. He had no words at age 3. He didn’t play with toys or acknowledge other children. But still, once it was said out loud. It’s real. And it’s forever.

There is a lot being said on the news right now. I just watched multiple stories on multiple news outlets. The big ones. NBC. CBS. And you know it’s a big deal when it makes those morning shows. Because if I’ve learned anything in my last 14 years as a mother to a child with autism, it’s that no one wants to talk about it. Instead, it’s shushed and swept under the rug and ignored.

Not anymore. Autism has entered the chat.

Here are my thoughts. And they are my thoughts only.

Autism is not a gift. Nor is it a tragedy.
Autism is not an identity. It’s a disability.
Autism is heartbreaking at times. And magical at other times.
Autism has brought so many wonderful people into my life. The best people really.
My greatest fear is dying and leaving my son.
We need more help.

My son is amazing, and I thank God for him every single day.

I would take away his autism in a heartbeat. And until you’ve watched your child injure their own body or laid awake at night wondering you will care for them after you die…you don’t get a say in that one.

I am so proud of my son and honestly, he works harder than anyone I’ve ever met.

Having a sibling with a disability is hard and feels unfair at times. I don’t know how anyone can deny that. But boy does it bring kindness, empathy, bravery, and love too.

This is hard on our family. But it’s also made us strong and loyal. We take nothing for granted. We are thankful for what we have.

I want to know why my son has autism and why my other children don’t. It's okay to ask why.

And I believe from asking why we will get more services and support. That’s what I am hoping. I pray that from conversation comes help.

See, my thoughts are in between gift and tragedy. It’s in our reality. It's in our every day. That’s where we reside. It’s ‘and’ not ‘or. It's the grey area.

We live autism out loud. Whether it's in the news or not. And when this news cycle passes, we will still be here.

Living alongside autism.

It’s not what I pictured. And it’s hard at times. But boy, do I love my son.

And he does play baseball. There is nothing better than watching an adaptive baseball game. Trust me on that one.

If this post had you nodding, or feeling less alone, please read my new book, Autism Out Loud. It’s the story of us and how we got where we are today. I promise, it’s worth a read.