Redefining Happiness, and Building Bridges from Within
This real life story draws many lessons for caregivers and autistic adults - click this URL link, or copy paste to your internet browser, to read the story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/10/16/how-listening-autistic-adults-helped-me-understand-support-my-son/ LESSON 1: Change Our Perceptions The author states " now know that the despair was caused more by my exposure to negative stereotypes about disability, and less by my child’s reality . " Don't keep viewing yourself (as an autistic or a parent) or your child as a defect or an unfortunate event. Sometimes such views stem more from society-created stereotypes , discrimination , skewed perceptions etc. in relation to your child's autism, and not just autism in and of itself. By Design, not Defect. Bright, not Broken Blessing, not Burden LESSON 2: Walked the Tough Road? Leave a Trail and Lead Others Who Come After You Many of the autistic adults this parent spoke to were able to help "war...