For World Autism Acceptance Day, we asked our clients, their families and the community to tell us what they would like people to know about autism. Senior Speech Pathologist Sally Grauaug compiled their ideas and feedback into this blog.
As one parent shared, “Autistic people appreciate understanding and support from NT {neurotypical} people”. Here is what our families, and the community told us they want everyone to know:
- “Our families love and accept our autistic son unconditionally, as he is. But I would like our families to know that parenting a child with additional needs is hard.”
- “Sometimes, despite trying, people with autism make mistakes.”
- “As he grows up, his friends will know that our son is a good friend in his own right – and they will be able to reciprocate the friendship freely out of mutual respect and admiration. Every child deserves that – autistic children (like any person with a disability) deserve absolute, unbridled inclusion….”
- “…they really want friends and can be a good friend with some support.”
- “My parents try their best. If I misbehave it doesn’t mean I am spoilt, or they are bad people.”
- “I want to perform well, I just need extra help to manage my needs and emotions."
- “Be curious, not judgmental... Being flexible, embracing our kiddos' differences and eliminating expectations makes it so much easier to get together.”
- “The fact it’s a spectrum, not one size fits all.”
CliniKids families and community reflections on what can be tricky about autism:
- “The trickiness comes from supporting him to navigate safely through a society designed for neurotypical people.”
- “…the real or perceived judgement that we receive from strangers out and about in the community who might give us a reproachful stare or an all-out earful because our son is dysregulated and cannot behave in a way that they think he should.”
- “…how hard they try to be understood...”
- “It’s really tricky to follow many instructions, break routine or make changes without warning me."
- "Noisy environments can be overwhelming. I find them very hard when I’m trying to work on a task… It can help to have a quiet classroom or space and/ or to use headphones during these times.”
CliniKids families and community reflections on what is great about autism:
- “I can see unique perspectives that others don’t always notice and I am great at problem solving.”
- “He’s always been unique….Everything about him is just so exquisitely different – the way he learnt to talk, the way he moves his body, the way he sees the world. He’s a bit of a rock star at school because he is so quirky, outgoing and downright gorgeous. The sound of his laugh (and he laughs a LOT) makes all my defences crumble and all my worries melt away in an instant. It feels like angels are singing in my heart when he laughs."
- “If I set my mind on something, I will follow through and persist.”
- “I am very curious, I’m great at learning and I can pick things up quickly."
- “My son is like a rain drop falling into a large puddle. The ripples he’s created and how he’s changed the lives of people around him is beautiful to watch. He’s seriously made me and the world around him a better place."
It’s vital that we listen to autistic people and their families to better understand autism and to become a more inclusive community. At CliniKids, we offer neurodiversity-affirming supports and programs that embrace the identity, strengths, and interests of neurodivergent children. We aim to work in partnership with autistic children and their families to allow them to reach their full potential.
A drawing by one of our clients illustrating what they want people to know about autism.