Taking notice

Three years ago, Alex's diagnosis was still new. I was still scared. And a boy named (I should change it...hmmm...) Colin walked into my class. As usual, the student IEP's were getting to elective teachers late, so I didn't know until three classes later that Colin is autistic.

I was thrilled. Here was a kid on the spectrum who could walk into a room without being immediately labeled! It gave me such hope!

Since then, I've noticed something changing, though: people are learning about autism. They are beginning to accept and even embrace it. The kindness of strangers still moves me to tears when they take special notice of my boy.

And his peers. And others' peers! When I see kids speaking kindly, sensitively to their autistic classmates...THAT gives me even more hope. Alex has two friends from school that I understand were big defenders when other kids weren't respectful. They go out of their way to reach him and connect.

When I look at Alex, I wonder...will he ever blend in? Do I even want him to? I'd like him to control some of the stims, like the flapping hands and pacing when he's overwhelmed. But more often, I LOVE his differences. And I have hope that others may come to respect them, too.

And so, once again, my hope has changed. I hope that as Alex grows, people will continue to notice he's different, even notice he's autistic. I hope that they will know what that means, and how to approach him. And I hope that these people will help him flourish, growing into a happy, confident man.

And I am working to make that happen.