Jax is my son. He’s a bright, active, and happy 4 -year-old. Jax was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at 2 years 10 months. He was nonverbal, nonsocial, and had many sensory issues.
Jax went through evaluations to be placed in a special education program in our county. Then he was placed in an Autism Special Needs pre-k. He started at age 3. There he learned how to use sign language and other skills. Ms. Michelle, his teacher is amazing and gifted. Along with Jax’s therapists, she has become part of his village. I credit her with much of his progress.
Autism Spectrum Disorder simply put, is when a person has problems communicating socially and verbally. But it’s a wide spectrum so Autism can mean different things to different people. Our family just says, “Jax has a different way of thinking and acting.”
My son has become verbal in the last six to eight months. It’s been great to hear him vocalize needs and wants. He’s obsessed with toy cars and play-doh. We still use sign language. He can read and write too.
Some children with Autism may be completely nonverbal but in those cases sign language and assisted learning devices help those children communicate. Even if a child is nonverbal, it doesn’t mean they aren’t able to communicate. It just means they need more help.
This April, I celebrate those individuals on the Autism Spectrum. My son’s Autism diagnosis was not a shock. My husband and I knew Jax would probably receive the diagnosis.
The thing that did shock me the most was the ignorance people still have. Discrimination and exclusion is something many Autism families experience in churches, schools, and even among friends and family. There’s also a lack of empathy for parents who care for their children with Autism. Like our children, we too want to be included and accepted.
The things I want people to know about Jax is that he’s awesome, friendly, and loves to laugh. He gives the best hugs. He can read and loves words. He thinks cars are fascinating. He’s obsessed with watching Peppa Pig. In many ways, he’s your average 4-year-old.
Jax doesn’t fit any mold. I know people struggle when he doesn’t respond back or look directly at them when they are speaking. He seems to be ignoring them. But if you take the time and have patience with him you will find he’s a great kid to play with. It takes him longer to react and sometimes he doesn’t always use his words. He flaps his hand or makes loud noises. It’s his way of dealing with his environment so please don’t be alarmed.
Each day brings growth, new challenges and sometimes regressions. But I wouldn’t change him if I could. He’s perfect the way he is. My only job is to meet him on his level and love him for who he is, not who I want him to be. I’ve learned to do that with him and other people too. I no longer expect people to fit into a tidy box to meet my expectations. Instead, I expect them to be their unique selves.
When you meet one person who has Autism, you have met that one person. Each person with Autism has different abilities and even some disabilities. People with Autism aren’t weird, scary, dangerous, or always a super genius. Autism isn’t contagious. So when you meet Jax or someone else with Autism please have an open mind and heart.
