Autism Doesn't Change a Thing

My son attends preschool, just like his peers, he interacts, he colors, he participates in activities with the rest of the class. He has a "girlfriend" that he likes to sit next to and people he's more comfortable around than others. He's no less or more important than anyone of the other students in his class. My son is Autistic. He is non-verbal, and has a need to be surrounded by the familiar. At almost 5-years old, he's not potty trained, he can't write his own name, and he can't engage in conversation with those around him. Communication is managed thru the use of pictures and guiding others or gesturing to the things he desires.

Apart from the time he spends in speech, physical and occupational therapy, he is just another child in preschool. A child who likes to be read to, and has favorite books, who likes to paint, draw and color, and loves to sing songs and dance to music. A child who would prefer to use his shirt or pant legs to wipe his hands instead of his napkin, and while we're at it forget the fork and spoon-using your hands is much more fun. He's a picky eater, like most children his age, and gets upset when things don't go the way he wants them to. But he can't understand the explanation as to why he won't be playing outside on a rainy day, and he can't tell you that he doesn't want spaghetti for lunch today.

He's perfectly normal. At least he is in my eyes. This is who he is; it's who he always has been. Being diagnosed on the Autism spectrum didn't change anything about him. It just gave his developmental delays a name. I heard a piece called "Welcome to Holland" on the radio many years ago. It comes to mind frequently since the diagnosis, because it's true. 'Holland' is different from other places, sure, but I've never been to other places, so I can't really compare, can I? Some people I know, who love my son dearly, can't help but think of all the things that I'll be missing out on by not having a "normal" child. I wonder what they think I'm missing out on.