Sunday, 21 March 2010

• Fear of Autism

  I have written several posts about how isolating autism can be for a parent.  When your child is diagnosed, your world changes.  Your perspective changes.  Your life is now different.  You still have the same child, but you enter a new world you were not prepared for.  Whatever plans you have made are now changed.  We are talking major upheaval.
  
  It is particularly hard for me when I sense that people treat Ava or regard Ava differently than they did before.  But let me say, for the most part, people treat Ava the same.  90% of people treat Ava no different than before.  For example, my "mommy group" has been so supportive -- and they all see Ava as a fellow playmate.  None of our play dates have changed because Ava has autism.  It is playtime as usual.  Sure, Ava does not have the time to play like she used to, but they ALL have been so wonderful and accommodating.   However, there are others, some who are very close to Ava, who have known her since the day she was born, who look at her differently since her diagnosis.
  
  They are afraid of her.  They are uncomfortable around her.  It is evident.
  
  It really disturbs me and I have tried my best to educate people about Ava's condition and what we need to do to communicate with her and help her learn. But bottom line: they love her, but they are afraid of her.  They worry about her.  They do not know what to say or do.  They are uneducated -- just as I was.
  
  I do not blame anyone for feeling cautious around Ava.  Autism is a puzzle.  Autism is confusing.  Autism is unknown.  People have no idea what it is. People have no idea what causes it.  People cannot put a finger on it.  The images we conjure up when someone says "autism" are of Dustin Hoffman as Rain Man or the kid rocking back and forth in a corner from that 1970s TV movie, Son Rise.  Not every autistic child is like Rain Man, some are like Ava and others are completely different.
  
  The only thing I can do as a a parent is educate everyone I come in contact with.  Every family member, friend and stranger who comes into my sphere of influence will be educated about autism.  In the beginning I was embarrassed to tell people that Ava was autistic, but now I am not.  We need to amend our perceptions of autism so these individuals will have a kinder, more livable world to welcome them.  Autism is not a stigma -- but it is nebulous.
  
  I just hope people stop being afraid and open their hearts to those who have autism.

  • 10:00 AM
  • 1963 Views
  • 16 eProps
  • 6 Comments