Most of you know I've been teaching students with autism for over three years now. What you may or may not know is just how prevalent the disorder is, and how much it varies from one child to another. I've got kids in my class who are highly intelligent- potentially gifted- to kids who just need to learn to eat with a fork and play with toys correctly. And the majority of these babies don't say "I love you" to their parents, although many of them show it better than anyone who is speaking and "normal" ever could.
The other amazing thing about being a teacher of students with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is meeting families who have children "on the spectrum." Because the disorder is so prevalent, that really happens more often than you might think. The people next door, so-and-so's cousin, nephew, sister, or in my case, the grandchild of the lady who sits next to me in the church orchestra.
We had a good conversation the other day about the whole "my child has been cured of autism" debate that you might have heard of. This seems to be popular, particularly with people in Hollywood (I can't remember the actress's name that claims this. She is marrying or has married Jim Carey). Now, I'll admit I'm still fairly new to dealing with ASD. But just from being around these kiddos, I wouldn't say there is any specific "cure" just yet. I've seen kids who go to multiple therapies, kids who are on the gluten-casein free diets, kids who spend time in hyperbaric chambers, and on and on. But even with all of this, I haven't seen any of them "cured." I've seen them appear to "get better." But even so, they still have autism, and it's still apparent.
So my problem in all of this "cure ASD" business is this: sure, you want your kid, grandchild, nephew, cousin to get better. And certainly you are, as the lady that sits by me stated, going to do everything you can to help them. But as she also pointed out, at what point are you going to accept the ASD as what is? Currently, there is no cure for Autism. The disorder is a beast, and it lingers even with all the multiple therapies that are available. I know it's a terrible thing to have a child that can't say "I love you."
But you've got to know where to draw the line too. Now, because I'm a Christian, I tend to believe that these kids with ASD are here for a reason. And I'm not saying we shouldn't continue to strive to find a cure. But in the meantime, rejoice in what you do have. They may not have the words to express it, but they are showing you that they love you every day, in one way or another if you look. And going into my fourth year of teaching these babies, I can tell you that when people actually STOP and take the time to tap into the way these guys (and gals) do communicate, you can find a true beacon of light shining within, no matter how much the ASD affects them.
So where do you draw your line between "fixing" a child with ASD to "not fixing." I'm certain it's a blurry line. And as stated in a "House" episode, "no one chooses this" (in reference to having a child with Autism). But then, how often do we choose a lot of things that happen in our lives? Rarely. You've got to know when to fight for a cure to this monstrous thing known as Autism, and when to just love the child with ASD for just who they are. And if you haven't found that beacon shining within just yet, don't give up hope. It's there.
