Disturbing

I cannot stomach the thought of this "autism drug" development. Why do we need a drug for a pervasive disorder? Autism is not a disease like cancer, which is the other types of drugs this company develop. I don't really even classify autism as a disorder, more of a condition, Autism Spectrum Condition.
What I find most disturbing is that this drug isn't anywhere near a trial phase and parents are "excited" about it?!? They want to subject their children to drug trials, use them as guinea pigs? That is just crazy, no? To those parents, I say, gee, I'm really sorry your kid isn't 'normal', but who is normal and what kind of normalcy are you wanting your child to be? Love your child [period].
We have many challenges with Andrew, but we love him and support him and give him every opportunity to thrive and succeed. Yes, he sees the world differently, but is that a BAD thing? I embrace his uniqueness and through him I've even changed how I see the world. He is an inspiration, a gentle soul, a loving child, and he's perfect the way that he is; he doesn't need to fit into some mold of mythological uniformity!
People, please, love your child [period]. Help them to reach their potential on their terms. Feed their interests, seek out therapies, help them make sense of the world, their world. Don't try to shove a pill down their throats in order to become something they are not meant to be, something "normal". Let go of normal, throw it away, accept being different...it's a good thing!

Meeting

As Mies and I are preparing for Andrew's new 504 Plan meeting, I keep coming across information to use for the meeting. We want to stress that Andrew is an intelligent young man, however he perceives the world differently then the "average" student and learns differently as well. I came across this quote from Jim Sinclair, from his article Don't Mourn for Us, way back in 1993 that is still a great guide today. Sinclair is describing what Mies and I feel to be true about our son, and what so many people miss when they speak of a "cure" for autism.
Here is the quote, "Autism isn't something a person has, or a "shell" that a person is trapped inside. There's no normal child hidden behind the autism. Autism is a way of being. It is pervasive; it colors every experience, every sensation, perception, thought, emotion, and encounter, every aspect of existence. It is not possible to separate the autism from the person--and if it were possible, the person you'd have left would not be the same person you started with."

As a parent I did struggle with this for a long time. I did mourn not having a "normal" child, but really, in my heart, I couldn't love Andrew any better if he were "normal". He brings new meaning to my life and through him I've learned to look at things differently. He has broadened my view on the world and I cannot wait to watch him grow and change over the years, just as he is, as Andrew, my son.