I am a mother on a mission, as many mothers are! Sean turned 16, April 12th, 2011 and has a few more years to go before he completes puberty. Sean has always been a difficult child because he can't communicate very well, but since puberty, life has been harder than ever.
Because of all the problems we've experienced during these pubescent years, I've reached out for help in all directions. Mainly in the area of cognitive behavior. I have discovered that resources are very limited for Sean. He is on Medicaid because of his disability, and this poses a problem. I suppose it is like they say, "Money makes the world go 'round". I've never been a true believer in that until now.
My father has recently embarked on a mission to make our troubles known to the local politicians. He has written Governor Bentley and Arthur Orr to ask about funding for autism in the coming years. He has made a plea to them to give autism the funding it deserves. There is a lot of attention paid to early intervention but seemingly not so much for the adolescent programs - when life is the toughest for any teen much less one with a disability. This is the reason I began this blog.
I want to tell our story from the beginning, so that anyone who reads it will, hopefully, see the hardship, the love, the push and pull, the ebb and flow of what life is like in a home where autism dominates. I am also finding my voice here. I want to use it to advocate for autistic persons. There are 1 in 50 currently diagnosed with autism in varying degrees. These children are our future. It will be an interesting world to live in as these children grow and contribute to society. They have a different way of viewing the world and we better be ready. We are all in transition.
My parents are the best support I have. I find strength in them on a daily basis. The encouragement they offer is priceless. My sister has also helped me considerably. I rely on their support. Some of the best things in life are free.
I want to tell our story from the beginning, so that anyone who reads it will, hopefully, see the hardship, the love, the push and pull, the ebb and flow of what life is like in a home where autism dominates. I am also finding my voice here. I want to use it to advocate for autistic persons. There are 1 in 50 currently diagnosed with autism in varying degrees. These children are our future. It will be an interesting world to live in as these children grow and contribute to society. They have a different way of viewing the world and we better be ready. We are all in transition.
My parents are the best support I have. I find strength in them on a daily basis. The encouragement they offer is priceless. My sister has also helped me considerably. I rely on their support. Some of the best things in life are free.
I have many close friends who support us and I am extremely grateful. Without them, I would have given up years ago. They propel me to think about the changes that need to be made. They brainstorm with me and give me the truth as they see it. They are sensitive and nonjudgmental. What would my life be like without my friends? I wonder.
I hope that as you read my story, you find something to take with you. Something you can add to your story. Life is about sharing. And I want to share my most precious gifts with you - my children.
"To stand tall, you must first learn to bend." ~P. Owen
Sav, 18 and Sean, 16
2011
"To stand tall, you must first learn to bend." ~P. Owen
Sav, 18 and Sean, 16
2011
