Today is April 2nd, it’s also Autism Awareness Day.

Two years ago I knew of this day, but wasn’t connected to it like I am today. Never in a million years did I think I’d be sitting here writing this, but here I am and like most days,  I am filled with so many emotions.

Before I dive in, let me say that this is our story.  No two people with Autism are the same –  perfectly quoted “If you’ve met one person with Autism, you’ve met one person with Autism”.   What works for us, may not work for everyone but as a mom with a beautiful child on the spectrum,  my hope in sharing our story is to bring Awareness, Understanding and Acceptance.

So, you may be wondering what Autism ( ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder ) is? Autism is a neurodevelopment disorders with a range of conditions and challenges.

Some difficulties include:

• social skills and interactions
• repetitive behaviours
• speech and non verbal communications
• sleep issues
• sensory issues with clothing and food
• regression
• flapping
• spinning
• rocking
• sensory overload
• stimming
• agression
• meltdowns
• seizures
• gastro issues
• ADHD, OCD tendencies and many more.

But even with the difficulties, also come high level skills, amazing attention to detail, deep focus, excellent long term memory, and fierce loyalty – also just to name a few.  The CDC released in 2014, 1 in 68 children to have ASD, This includes 1 in 42 boys, and 1 in 189 girls, and I feel pretty confident in saying, I’m sure the stats for that have climbed since then. Which is why we need more education. If you’re not personally effected by Autism, you probably know someone who is, and if not, I’m sure your child may have a peer at school who is.

Just like you, I am a mom, a wife, a regular person. I’m active, live a healthy life, eat well, exercise and get outside. My Husband and I  are also very affectionate parents and fill our home with love and care.  I’m saying these things because of the hundreds of assumptions and accusations as to WHY people develop autism, or WHAT causes it – vaccines, genetics, ultrasounds, environmental toxins, cold parenting, the list goes on.  The unknown/lack of answers can sometimes be overwhelming and frustrating, but for our family we have come to a place were we believe everything happens for a reason, and sometimes… things just happen.

Our story.

Our world flipped upside down last July. At 21 months old our sweet little Briggs was diagnosed with Autism. It was no shock to me, I knew from the time he was an infant. In previous years I had worked with amazing individuals at Jobs Unlimited and everyday am thankful I had this opportunity, as I believe it’s how I knew so early on with Briggs. While I was confident in the news we were about to receive, that day in the doctors office,  I felt I was scrambling against the clock. Focused on getting Briggs the help he needed immediately. But I did grieve, and some days still think part of me is.

It’s hard to fully explain what a family (our family) or individuals go through on a daily basis. Autism comes so much stress, worry, fear, wonder, anger, grief, anxiety, isolation, hope, and non stop care.

Our Beautiful Briggs.

I can’t even imagine a day in the life of Briggs. He’s the bravest boy I know, truly. He can’t sit, he can’t talk, he’s not self aware. And before you may think well, any toddler is like that – he literally runs straight for danger, non-stop busy all day long and while he could and does notice any new little change or any speck of dirt he will also run straight into a sharp corner and split his head open. He can’t handle change, or busy spots. He can’t handle certain foods, blankets or hoods. He can’t engage or sit to play. He can’t put himself to sleep or sleep alone.

You see, it’s hard to properly explain all of this in a matter of so many words, and everyday we’re still trying to learn. When things get too loud, busy, out of routine, if things are rushed or not how he would like things, the result is full blown meltdowns. Even if it seems from our view they may be right, he see’s things in a completely different way, one that we won’t ever really fully know or understand. Like so many kids, Briggs is learning and growing – he has thoughts and feelings, questions and concerns, wants and needs. So for us the base of all his meltdowns is communication. I couldn’t even imagine how frustrating that must be. Life is so fast and loud even for me at times, let alone someone with Autism. So meltdowns happen and now it’s meltdowns with agression. But he CAN understand, learn, adapt, share, he can communicate without talking, and most of all he can LOVE. Briggs is non-verbal, but communicates to us everyday in his own way. He knows numbers 1-30, the entire Alphabet, all of his shapes (even as far as knowing the difference between a semi circle, cone and octagon), and all of his colours and animals. Briggs shows us everyday how incredible he is – he has SO much to offer this world. It’s just in his own way, and it takes time. Just like anyone with ASD.

Life for us with Briggs is nothing like I thought it would be – but he’s taught me (and us) so much. The highs are so high, but the lows are so low. What may seem like a little milestone, waving, shaking head, noticing a step, making eye contact, which for most come natural – those take hundreds of hours, weeks, months of constant work, tears and effort. I have so much faith for our sweet boy and anyone who happens to have Autism. They are truly the biggest and bravest superhero on earth. Despite all the stress, tears, anger, always being two steps ahead, isolation, fear and worry,  I couldn’t imagine (or want) a life without Briggs. He is SO much more then Autism. With lots of hard work and love, we will be just fine. Wile I’m not a medical professional or have all the answers, I am his Mom and that makes me HIS expert, just as all you mothers are too.

My hope.

My hope is to educate. With education comes growth, with growth comes understanding, with understanding comes acceptance and with acceptance comes unlimited possibilities!  We are all supposed to be different in the first place, Right?
If you know someone with Autism or someone who has a loved one, take note, ask questions about their likes and dislikes, each individual is so different.

If you’re looking for a beautiful explanation of Autism (and especially child friendly), I encourage you to watch this video and share with as many as you can!