ZOOM IN
I was Brave! We Had a Plan
BY CONNER CUMMINGS
I
t’s me, Conner. The other night I was scared,
really scared, but I put my fear in the back of
me, and I told myself that I can do this. I said
to myself, “Mom needs me, mom believes in
me and mom taught me what to do.” I did what
was in the
plan. Here
is what happened.
“
her a few ice cubes in my hand that she held on
her thumb.
I knew if the neighbors were not home to call
911. I have a script, and I know what to say as
we have practiced with them. I did good
in practice, but this was not the same.
This time my heart hurt and my eyes
were watered. It was real. Our friends
stayed with us and brought crackers
and Sprite ice in a bag and a towel that
I got and medicine until Mommy could
see again. Then Mom and I stayed in
the basement to watch a Disney movie
because nothing can make us feel better
than a Disney movie. Mom said for me
to choose, and I chose Dumbo. Dumbo
is about a mom and her son who together make
a difference.
“
I did good in practice,
but this was not the same.
This time my heart hurt and
my eyes were watered.
It was real.
”
I put my fear
in the back of me,
and I told myself that
Mom and I
went to the
basement to
put blow-up
beds away
and get my
stuff back
out. Mom went to move a wood table that was
at a wall, and the wall with a big wood phone
on it fell on my mom. Mom pushed me away
and put her hand up, and we heard a noise that
came from her thumb. She was saying, “Okay.
My thumb really hurts. I cannot see,” and then
she fell to the ground. She told me, “I am okay,
Conner. You are doing good. You need to go
into our emergency plan. You can do this. You
know it, and Mom is so proud of you.”
I can do this.
I ran upstairs and got my phone. I called our
two neighbors. One I left a good message and
one answered. I used words. That was hard because my heart was pounding and where were
my words? Then I thought about the plan, and I
used the script. I ran and left the door open and
came back to my mom. We got her in a chair,
and she still could not see, but she kept telling
me she loved me and how proud she was of me
and even if she cannot say it I will feel it and
that I should keep following the plan. I brought
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ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
”
Well, the movie worked as I felt better and Mom
said she felt better too. I helped Mom upstairs to
her bed. I sat by my mom until it was my bedtime.
I was brave! Mom says I was her hero. We had
an emergency plan that I followed. Do you have
one? Because you should.
Conner Cummings is a 22 year old autistic advocate who most recently passed a bill in the state
of Virginia where a law was named after him…
Conner’s Law. In addition, Conner has a passion
for Disney, photography, ice skating, writing and piano. Conner writes in his popular Facebook page Conquer for Conner.
ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
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