PERSONAL NARRATIVE
Though, upon a deeper understanding of what au-
tism is and what it does to a child’s developing brain,
any loving individual would want to take that diag-
nosis away from them. It does not mean that a per-
son may love them any less; it actually means you
love them more. What is real, what is love, what is
selfless, is to believe that one day I will help him be-
come and enjoy him as the person he was intended
to be—without this special need. Wishing—that is,
not wishing—that he is not who he has become be-
cause below the surface of the diagnosis, he is still
him, without his autism, and that is the little boy
whom I know and love. The aggression, the endless
screams, the impulsive outbursts are not part of my
son’s true core, and those things I would gladly wish
to let go of, for his own best welfare. To love your
child does not mean that you cannot want better for
him or her, want an easier life, or want your child to
be a better version of himself/herself. At the core of
love is to want better for a person, and that involves
a life that is pain free, a life of cuddles, smiles, deep
belly laughter, and pure peaceful dreams, a life I hope
to someday watch all of my children experience be-
cause there is nothing wrong with wanting more for
my special needs child than the life that is currently
in our focus.
Janele Hoerner is the author of Loving the Soul Be-
neath the Autism: An Interior Analysis of the Impact
a Special Needs Child Bestows upon the Family. Her
award-winning book details her oldest son’s life
from in utero through his diagnosis at three years
of age and concludes with the beginnings of his
first year of school at five years. She believes her son
is the greatest gift that she has ever received and
wishes to help all individuals come to understand
that individuals with special needs are an import-
ant part of our society as they teach us to become
selfless. She lives with her husband and their five
children, two of whom are on the autism spectrum,
in Central Pennsylvania.
Website: www.lovingthesoulbeneaththeautism.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lovingthesoulbe-
neaththeautism
WWW.CHARISHILLS.ORG
Phone: 940-964-2145
HF Autism ~ ADD/HD ~ LD ~ Asperger’s
Located in
Sunset, TX
Charis Hills is a residential, recreational and educational summer camp for
children ages 7 - 18 with high functioning autism as well as ADD/HD, Learning
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desire to be accepted and succeed in new activities. We have over 25 activities
to choose from. Campers play with a purpose. 1-3 week sessions.
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