A painting by 9 yr old Isaac.
“I'm sorry. My son is autistic”, said Corinne (not her real name) after her son Isaac had run up to a crying baby and screamed loudly in its face startling both mom and baby. “Artistic!” the mother replied incredulously and hurried away before Corinne could explain. Corinne sighed. Isaac was an ordinary looking boy, a highly gifted artist and yet his autism caused him to do socially inappropriate things that were difficult to explain.
That was 6 years ago and luckily for Corinne, thanks to the media and to organizations like *Autism Speaks where they have walkathons to raise donations and awareness of the disability even in Chicago, autism is not quite so hidden anymore. Now the main challenge is helping to break the stereotypes that come with the disability. While most people know the difference between artistic and autistic, many still think of people who have autism in terms of media promoted images like Rain Man or as extremely brilliant anti-social math geniuses with little capacity for true creativity. The truth is though, that the symptoms of autism range widely from children who can't talk to children like Isaac who are ordinary in many ways but have sensory issues such as the inability to deal with crying babies.
Even schools in certain low income areas are still behind in their knowledge of autism. Jamie, a special education teacher from a school in West Chicago was appalled to find an autistic boy stuck in the back of a classroom to play video games the whole day because he was unmanageable. It was only when he came to her class for an hour a day that he learned anything because she took the time to find out that he was gifted in drawing and was acting out because he could not eat the food in the cafeteria and was hungry and irritable.
For parents like Corinne and for teachers like Jamie the main challenge will be to try and help their children overcome these stereotypes and truly shine in the areas in which they are gifted.
*For more info see : Walk for Autism www.walknowforautism.org/faf/home/default.asp
Comments
Nice article C.J. I think perhaps we're all on the spectrum.....just in different places at different times. Stereotypes are a bear.
That was great. I am so proud of you.
Keep up the good work, CJ :)
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!