by Marcia Hinds
The best way I can explain the frustration that children with autism feel because they can’t communicate is with a chocolate analogy. Imagine your favorite candy bar is right in front of you and you missed lunch. You are starving. Your blood sugar plummets along with your mood. You try to communicate to anyone who will listen to hand over that chocolate candy bar loaded with caramel and nuts NOW! But no one understands what you want, and you can’t say it. Then someone gives you a pencil. Next, they demand you say “Thank you” for an object you do not want. And when you don’t, they give you a swat on the butt. Given this scenario, I might scream or hit my head too.
I just read a great book called Underestimated: An Autism Miracle by JB Handley and his son Jamison. It truly explains why our kids are so frustrated and why they act out with aggressive and strange behaviors. Once Jamison could communicate, those behaviors went away. Underestimated will inspire you, remind you of the power of love, and ultimately leave you asking tough questions about how many more Jamisons are waiting to be freed from their prison of silence. Our children are brilliant, but they sometimes can’t show us that because they are lacking speech. Many scientists still consider nonspeakers with autism—a full 40 percent of those on the autism spectrum—to be “mentally retarded.” Is it possible that the experts are wrong about several million people? All that is needed is a way to for them to communicate. Then we will discover just how capable they truly are.
NOTE FROM MARCIA HINDS – Ryan and Megan’s mom:
Ryan began to learn and act more typical only after he received proper medical treatment combined with behavioral and educational interventions. To preview “I KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE – Winning Our War Against Autism” go to Amazon or www.autismandtreatment.com.
ALONE there is little we can do about autism…
TOGETHER we will be unstoppable
