JayD210
Active Member
This saddens me. It also angers me. This is the side of Autism nobody talks about, supports, or spreads awareness about. Those of us who are mild or moderate on the Autism Spectrum have a hand in this to an extent, but most of is immediate neighbors, even immediate family.
The people impacted by Severe Autism. Those who can’t speak for themselves and often endure a life of isolation, being marginalized, and denied the basic dignity you and I take for granted. This is a battle that many Autism Families endure with little to no assistance as these folks age closer and closer to and into adulthood. They’re minimally verbal or they’re entirely nonverbal. Many of them have other disorders and thus are so severe that their capacity is that of a toddler despite their actual age. That lack of support and being passed over by the rest of us means that their outlook and quality of life is rather bleak. I can’t stand that. Those without a second disorder but still heavily impacted by Autism. I myself remember not being able to speak at all until I was 3-1/2 and my memories go back another year prior to that. Knowing at any age that you’re unable to tell people your wants and needs. It’s frustrating and terrifying. I was 3-1/2 when I was beginning to speak but had lots of problems still with speaking until I was 5. I remember the fear and the anxiety of it. I overcame it, but so many of them don’t. I defied all odds. They told my Mom I’d never speak more than a few words at a time, but I did and I’m thriving. I do so knowing that I got lucky.
Not only do I have Autism but my Sister is an Autism Mom and that makes me an Autism Uncle. As much as my Sister gets on my nerves and I have bad memories from her, my will to try to help my Nephew who has Severe Autism outweighs the rift between my Sister and I. My Nephew is going to be 15 in September and is minimally verbal. His inability to communicate effectively is what I believe to be the reason behind his behavioral issues that I’m aware he has. I’m worried as his Uncle that in a few short years, he will be casted away, isolated by the world who forgot about him. I know what the world does to those with Severe Autism and to me, that is utterly unacceptable.
As someone who also was diagnosed at an early age but am now spoken for like most of us here, I feel it is my duty to advocate for those who have Severe Autism and their families. One being forgotten is one too many. We as a society and in the Autism Community need to do better by these people. That’s what I’m trying to advocate for. These families don’t need to be politicized, marginalized, or offered dumb remarks. They need the support from everyone around them that’s willing and they need all the support they can get.
It’s not just my Sister who’s fighting this battle. I’ve got longtime friends of mine who are now Autism Parents, also with Kids who have Severe Autism. I made them a promise that I’ll do everything I can to bring light to their situations and that’s a promise I intend to keep.
Enough is enough. These people matter just as much as we do.
The people impacted by Severe Autism. Those who can’t speak for themselves and often endure a life of isolation, being marginalized, and denied the basic dignity you and I take for granted. This is a battle that many Autism Families endure with little to no assistance as these folks age closer and closer to and into adulthood. They’re minimally verbal or they’re entirely nonverbal. Many of them have other disorders and thus are so severe that their capacity is that of a toddler despite their actual age. That lack of support and being passed over by the rest of us means that their outlook and quality of life is rather bleak. I can’t stand that. Those without a second disorder but still heavily impacted by Autism. I myself remember not being able to speak at all until I was 3-1/2 and my memories go back another year prior to that. Knowing at any age that you’re unable to tell people your wants and needs. It’s frustrating and terrifying. I was 3-1/2 when I was beginning to speak but had lots of problems still with speaking until I was 5. I remember the fear and the anxiety of it. I overcame it, but so many of them don’t. I defied all odds. They told my Mom I’d never speak more than a few words at a time, but I did and I’m thriving. I do so knowing that I got lucky.
Not only do I have Autism but my Sister is an Autism Mom and that makes me an Autism Uncle. As much as my Sister gets on my nerves and I have bad memories from her, my will to try to help my Nephew who has Severe Autism outweighs the rift between my Sister and I. My Nephew is going to be 15 in September and is minimally verbal. His inability to communicate effectively is what I believe to be the reason behind his behavioral issues that I’m aware he has. I’m worried as his Uncle that in a few short years, he will be casted away, isolated by the world who forgot about him. I know what the world does to those with Severe Autism and to me, that is utterly unacceptable.
As someone who also was diagnosed at an early age but am now spoken for like most of us here, I feel it is my duty to advocate for those who have Severe Autism and their families. One being forgotten is one too many. We as a society and in the Autism Community need to do better by these people. That’s what I’m trying to advocate for. These families don’t need to be politicized, marginalized, or offered dumb remarks. They need the support from everyone around them that’s willing and they need all the support they can get.
It’s not just my Sister who’s fighting this battle. I’ve got longtime friends of mine who are now Autism Parents, also with Kids who have Severe Autism. I made them a promise that I’ll do everything I can to bring light to their situations and that’s a promise I intend to keep.
Enough is enough. These people matter just as much as we do.
