| Autism Acceptance | | | | we may not understand; connecting with the souls of |
| One of the greatest gifts, we as parents, can give our | | | | our children, and being the ‘gate-keeper' of wanted |
| children on the Spectrum, is our acceptance of Autism | | | | (or necessary) and unwanted (or unnecessary) |
| as being part of their intrinsic selves. | | | | influences on our selves and children. |
| | | | When our autistic children grow to feel and know that |
| To refine my meaning here, imagine your immediate | | | | we accept their intrinsic selves, they too can gain |
| family unit as the ‘inner circle' of your existence on | | | | confidence and acceptance in their own ways of |
| this planet. Within this primary circle, we work to | | | | being. As Susan Boyle (UK singer) similarly described |
| understand each other; recognise and appreciate | | | | her desire for others to ‘view' her as a person |
| first-hand what makes each other ‘tick', how our | | | | recently, a young autistic man once said to me, "I was |
| unique relationship with each other is ‘personal' to | | | | born as me….I want to be free to be that me…not |
| you, and from that circle we can reach out to others | | | | what others think I should be…" |
| things to expand on our life experience or we can | | | | With Autism acceptance in its truest form, we are able |
| invite into that circle persons/experiences/things which | | | | to make choices for our autistic children/teens/adults |
| will directly affect, complement and/or inadvertently | | | | which truly are in their best interests. Not follow or |
| harm our unique ‘inner circle' unit. | | | | accept a fad treatment, a ‘snake-oil salesman' |
| As parents, the choices we make; the things/people | | | | remedy for Autism (‘cure'), or be swept along in a |
| we invite into this ‘inner-circle'; the people/things we | | | | whirlwind of tumbling voices telling you your child "must |
| reach out of the ‘inner-circle' to or for, for the | | | | have..", "must be..", "won't be ‘normal' unless..", is |
| hopeful benefit of our children and ourselves, will have | | | | unacceptable being autistic and so on….. |
| a direct impact on our ‘inner-circle's' wellbeing. | | | | Autism is a life-long differing ability. We can and must |
| If we build a strong partnership of souls in the | | | | promote Autism acceptance within our communities |
| membership of our unique ‘inner-circle'; aim to | | | | where the need arises. But the most important |
| secure a solid acceptance of each of the members | | | | ‘place' for Autism acceptance to begin and soulfully |
| unique individuality (including abilities and intrinsic ways | | | | emanate from is within the family unit – the ‘inner |
| of being – including the presence of Autism) and the | | | | circle' – the centre of our own existence. From such |
| truth and reality of their beingness, we can offer this | | | | ‘unity', those many experiences and people who |
| unique cluster of souls a healthy, humane, positive and | | | | occupy the ‘circles' exterior to our own will |
| substantial ‘base' of ‘wellness' and stability, from | | | | hopefully learn the true meaning of Autism acceptance |
| which we can aim to make appropriate choices for | | | | in it's most natural and powerful form. And because of |
| the assistance, strengthening and overall wellbeing of | | | | our acceptance and true understanding of our Autistic |
| the ‘unit'. | | | | children (who can be very vulnerable), we can offer a |
| As parents, we can reach a personal understanding of | | | | ‘safe', understanding, empathetic and ‘protective' |
| acceptance of Autism (and the intrinsic being of each | | | | environment from which they may venture into the |
| family member) via educating ourselves in ‘things' | | | | ‘circles' beyond our own as they grow. |