As a father of a soon to be 17 year old son with severe autism disorder symptoms and profound developmental delays I understand fully when parents discuss those challenges on line. (He is also a very solid 6'1" and still growing). I do not mock other parents and accuse them of engaging in self pity, or of demonizing their children, as do many in the Neurodiversity movement including the "Thinking Persons" at the TPGA.
I understand fully what it means to try and help your adolescent son when he is hitting himself in the head in the middle of the night or when at a younger age he slipped out of the house unnoticed, crossing full parking lots and a busy main street on a busy Saturday afternoon. I understand and I communicate these challenges so that people in the world at large are not misled by the media that adores the high functioning success stories or the DSM5 teams that are now redefining the most severe intellectually disabled autistics out of the spectrum as the only co-morbid condition group specifically and expressly targeted for exclusion.
I communicate these realities to be honest to my son and present honestly the challenges he faces even as those with his symptoms are being abandoned by the inglorious drafters of the DSM5 autism spectrum disorder. To those who think otherwise I hope you have a good day.
When I feel the stresses of caring for a severely autistic, profoundly developmentally delayed son, as happens on occasion, I do not seek support on the internet. I find my joy in my son, not in his disorder but in him, the pure joy in the many good times and even the joy that comes from trying to help some one as best you can overcome the severe challenges they face.
I also, like any human being, find joy in diversions, including music. Some musicians have the ability to lift any spirit, to assist in facing any challenge. One that I have always enjoyed since the days when she was with us and blessing us with her talent and her incredible heart and soul was ... and still is ... in her music ... Janis Joplin. If you're feeling a bit worn down try a bit of Janis. I don't know for sure if it will work for you but it sure works for me.
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