April the First 2014: Autism Awareness Month

For those who are not aware April the first is Autism Awareness Month.  

Autism is a complex neurological disorder that typically lasts a lifetime.  The thing about Autism that many people don't understand is that it's different for each person who suffers from it.  

My mother wrote something for Autism Awareness Month three years ago and I'd like to share it.

Our Son Turns 16 This Month- Autism Awareness Month.

Finding his birth certificate and ultrasound scans stirred emotions and memories.  

It seems so long ago we caught our first glimpse.  Just one galaxy of lives speeding towards completion, speeding towards life.  His potential far greater than ours put together.  Our hopes and dreams will be his to own.  Like a shining star poised against a blue-black night, our little boy perfection in form, peace and rest. 

At warp speed the years pass.  Our Bright Shining Star blends and bends towards a galaxy we know not.  A place we don't own and don't wish to go.  Daily the struggle to bring him back on course to join in with story time, sandpit play and parties.

But his course is set, it is his own and enjoined on this journey, our hopes are dashed and dreams gone.  We alone know his potential, a myriad of shining moments his mind perceives what is, was and what could be.  This place, our world, loud calamitous, scorching, screeching, painful, just in being he finds no rest. 

In moments he is beautiful, bright and shining without malice, manipulation or cunning.  Creative, careful and caring is he.  Fireworks in the night sky his display is musical, artistic, scientific and literal.  Questions we can't answer torment his mind.  Feelings we cannot know puzzle his soul and say he is alone.  A burden too heavy for any of us, our children must carry in isolation as they alone search through life to find a friend.  

If by some means he were changed to be like us mundane, atypical at the mercy of popular opinion, fashion and ambition, we would not wish it.  Even when his actions seem bizarre, he has no guile.  When his words are harsh he does not know.  We've come too far in this journey to turn back.  He shines and makes others shine also.  He joins with others like himself and together they remind us how precious is our humanity shining bright together even in the darkness and in the night of not knowing why.

-Janette Winter

I would like to encourage all of you to get involved in this great cause and if you can donate, if not just show your support by wearing BLUE tomorrow (the second of April) for Light It Up Blue, which is the global event held for this cause.

Sorry for my absence and this short post, I have to get going but I'll try and write more about Autism Awareness Month tomorrow!! I'll also be doing a March favorites post soon and possibly uploading my very first YOUTUBE VIDEO! So keep an eye out!

Live long and prosper, godspeed.

Becca.