Autism – Hope and Cure

A few years back Gopan and I got a chance to attend a workshop on Autism conducted by Dr. Wenn Lawson. What was so special about him? He had traveled across the globe to conduct the workshop and he has Autism! Apart from his dreamlike academic credentials, which include a doctorate, he has authored 16 books! We listened to him in rapt attention, totally mesmerized. He spoke of his life with Autism and his challenges. Listening to him speak and engage with the audience, sparked hope in my heart and I thought if he can overcome his challenges, so can Dhruv! People like Dr. Lawson or Dr. Stephen Shore (another amazing autistic individual ) constitute a really tiny percentage of the Autism world, yet the fact they exist inspires Autism parents and gives them hope!    

“Hope” is the most precious commodity in every Autism family…

Today, my daughter will speak her first word,

And call me mama.

Today, my son will brush his teeth on his own,

And maybe, just maybe even spit.

Today, some kid will play with my son in the park,

And hopefully, not call him names.  

The list goes on and it varies depending on the child, the family, and the severity of the condition.

Hope…

Currently, there is no cure for Autism. However, there are many avenues for parents looking for the slightest glimmer of hope. Alternate therapies are the most common, and while none of them cure Autism, some may bring relief to certain issues that often manifest in individuals with Autism. These could be hyperactivity, anxiety, and gut issues to name a few. Recently, I even heard someone suggest that Autism could be cured through prayers. The suggestion was received with a lot of gusto and many parents seemed interested in it as it gave them hope. The harsh reality is that many parents resent Autism in their lives and will do anything for a miracle “cure”.

I thought, “if indeed there is a cure for Autism, wouldn’t it be on the market by now”?

As an Autism parent, “hope” is my best friend, although she goes off on her little jaunts now and then leaving me alone. Yet even on my darkest days, I am not looking for a cure. You may wonder why! Once you accept Autism, you understand Autism is woven into the very core of your child. Every cell of your child is intertwined with Autism; into the very essence of his being. So, Autism and your child are inseparable from each other.

If we start believing in cures, all our energies will be focused only on pursuing them and lose precious time which could otherwise be utilized to work with our kids and bring them up the curve. Kids on the spectrum are very intuitive and have heightened senses. If I start thinking that my son is “suffering” from Autism, I have to “cure” and make him “normal”, he will pick up those vibes. He will sense that I am embarrassed/ ashamed of him and lose his self-esteem. Rather than focusing on his deficits, we could try to focus on his strengths and the joy he brings to our lives just by being him. We are not looking for a miraculous cure but trying to make him independent and teaching him the ways of society so that he can lead a meaningful life.

We all are on different journeys and our thoughts and actions are guided by our life experiences. Every individual with Autism is different and so are their challenges. For some, the severity of their child’s condition can shape their actions where they are willing to do anything to make their child’s pain go away. There are a number of parents who believe in fixes, and cures in the hope that someday their kid will be “normal.”  In this journey, I have learned not to judge as ultimately every parent best knows what is needed for their child. They are not answerable to anyone for the choices they make, however crazy it may seem to the rest of the world. If you are convinced about something, go ahead and do it. However, just ensure you do enough research and talk to people who have undergone a similar treatment for their kids with favorable results before you try it out.

“If you’ve met one person with Autism, you’ve met one person with Autism”

Dr Stephen Shore

Disclaimer: The views expressed are my personal thoughts and are not meant to offend anyone’s beliefs and sensibilities.

The original source of the blog is from https://sujapisharody.home.blog/2020/05/12/autism-hope-and-cure/