Living with a Child that Has Autism

My son is a very beautiful boy. I wouldn't want to trade him for anyone else in the world. I know that we have a website that is called letscureautism.com but it is because we want him to be able to have the life that he truly deserves. I know that a lot of the higher functioning people with Autism are against a cure and I completely understand what they are saying. I don't want the good parts that he has to go away either. We would just love to see him be able to communicate without having to throw tantrums or scream to the top of his lungs. He is non-verbal right now and it is really tough. We are starting to learn to communicate with him a little better but it is still difficult. As he is getting older his temper is getting worse. When he is mad at me or my husband, he tries to throw heavy things at our heads. He also bites himself and hits himself in the head when he is mad. He is 4 1/2 years old and that scares me that those parts are getting worse.

He is in school and it is helping a little but not as much as we would like it to. We live in a town with 15,000 people and they don't have an Autism specific program. He has to be in a class with "normal" kids that only have a speech delay. We were told by a parent that has a son in Junior High that the school system just gets worse for these children. I know that it costs money to have these programs and that you also need teachers to teach them but if Autism is such an epidemic they should know how to teach these children that have Autism. We are in the process of trying to become a non profit agency in our town so that we can help anyone that we can. We are going to fight for these things to the full extent. The schools are bad enough for the "normal" kids. We want all of the loving children with Autism to have a chance in this life.

Don't get me started on the ignorant people that there are. They stare at you, give you dirty looks, sigh out loud and make comments loud enough for you to hear them. Do I have to put a sign on my son that reads, "I have Autism"? Yes, my son does look "normal" but so do a lot of people with other types of disabilities. I have had to make comments right back or I would just hurry up and leave. I don't need people trying to give me parenting advice unless they have a child with Autism and we can share ideas. Spanking my child is not going to help! How he is acting is his way of trying to communicate. I am not going to punish him like that because you people that make these comments are so damn ignorant. If you were to know my son, you would see how wonderful he truly is. Along with all of the other children that have Autism. Maybe you should learn more about Autism and try to help instead of making comments and pointing fingers. Autism has nothing to do with "bad parenting".

Sometimes it can be very difficult dealing with my Autistic son but overall he is a blessing. I don't want to change him, only give him the life that he deserves. Who doesn't have dreams for their children? You want them to be able to live on their own, go to college, get a great job, get married to a wonderful person and have children. As a parent I know that we all have these dreams for all of our children. I don't like being 32 and afraid of dying because I don't know what is going to happen with my Autistic child. Hopefully, as time goes on he will get better and better so I won't have to worry as much. If I knew that he would be taken care of properly for the rest of his life than I wouldn't have to worry as much. Do I want a cure for Autism? I have mixed feelings about it but if it means giving my child the life that he deserves, you bet!!