It has been too long since I last blogged. School, Work, Volunteering etc...the list goes on and on. In the past month we have accomplished so much. Fist off a successful Silent Auction for Logan's school (www.btlc.ca) where we raised $25,000.00that will be put to great use I am sure. We also had a very successful Halloween. Where we received way to much candy!
Over the summer I read a great book by Jodi Picoult called House Rules. I started wonder why most of the fiction books that I have read that involve Autism are always based on someone with Aspergers? Is it that Aspergers is more socially acceptable? Is it that their "quirks" fit neatly into the box we label normal? Is Aspergers "just enough" difference?
I want you know that no matter where a child falls on the Autism spectrum it is Autism. Please do not tell me that my child is "higher functioning" please do not tell me that he may have Aspergers. Logan is on the Autism Spectrum. The spectrum looks an Awful lot like a rainbow but this rainbow has no pot of gold at the end.
It frustrates me when I tell someone Logan is Autistic and their reply is "he looks normal" or "he must be high functioning...does he have aspergers?". I know it is that they are not familiar with Autism like our family is and I try to remember that I have been there before. I just want people to know Autistic Children do not look different. It is how they learn, how they behave, how they socialize that is different. There is no "good" Autism. Just like there is no "good" cancer. No matter where a child is on the spectrum they are on it. Just like no matter what cancer you are diagnosed with it is cancer and scary as hell! Each family that is given the ASD diagnosis will have their own challenges, each child will have their own potential or best outcome to meet. Just remember they have potential!
Would I change it if I could? No....I was put on this road for a reason. I am happy that early intervention has made a huge difference in our lives. That Logan is becoming more aware of his environment and his peers. His vocabulary is growing and his behaviour is coming around but it will be a long road filled with ups and downs.
