All the time you’d been searching for answers,
I’d been facing my own struggles. Kids are supposed to come with their own EveryKid superpowers (Oh, maybe they didn’t in your day…
it only started after the dinosaurs died out.)
Every kid knows about eating the veggies to get
the dessert, asking another child to play at the
park and going for help or grabbing a parent if
they’re scared, but I didn’t have those powers.
Everything that was automatic to other kids was
often confusing, frustrating and even painful for
me.
I may not have many typical young adult powers now, like wearing high heels or knowing
one wine or beer from the next, but I do have
powers. I’m creative and determined, which
makes me a great problem solver. I don’t always
greet people or say “I need a break,” but I aced
grade math class, your first boyfriend in college,
my way through grad school with my creative
and…my dad. Well, that makes sense of some
writing that often shared my experience with
things.
autism. I’m content with
what I have—tiny apartment,
Since you’ve
You
understood
that
no
maer
laptop, weighted blanket,
learned about
how badly some people wanted cat—sounds like paradise!
autism, I’ve
I’m currently excited about
heard you say
to jam your square-peg kid
the massive minion invasion
that it feels like
into
a
round
hole,
it
would
only
and the hope of an adjunct
it’s your fault
professor position. I know
for not knowing
damage the peg.
who I am. I try to put others
sooner and for
first. I’m happy. But I’m not
thinking I wasn’t
like most young adults…
listening when, really, I wasn’t able. As a mother, you said, of course, that you blame yourself.
… and you’re not like most moms. All moms
have super powers, but you are the SuperMom
But I don’t blame you. I remember hard times—
this kid has needed to become the very best
screaming at itchy tights, fears I couldn’t name,
she could be—happy, unshakeable and always
teachers who thought it would fix everything to
grateful.
tell me I was smart enough to know better—but
I never remember you failing me. You went on
a mission for cotton tights, and you didn’t force
I remember
me into crowded places or make
me take biteshard times—
of foods tha t don’t really seem
like food to me.
screaming
at itchy tights,Lydia Wayman is an autistic advocate, writer,
Most of all, you understood that no matter how
fears I couldn't name, blogger and speaker with a B.S. in Education
badly some people wanted to jam your squarean M.A. in English/Nonfiction Writing.
teachers
who thought and
peg kid into a round hole, it would
only damShe manages the website and communications at
age the peg. You’ve always shown
pride in fix
my everything
Parents in Toto, a family-based autism nonprofit, and she is a
it would
squared-off edges.
Young Leader with the Autistic Global Initiative.
“
”
If you and your spouse were to divorce tomorrow, would you be able to financially care
for your autistic child on your own—perhaps for your child’s lifetime?
CONNER’S LAW
They were told
‘They Can’t’
‘They Won’t’
‘They Never Will’
And they said...
WATCH US!
“
to tell me I was smart enough
to know beer—
56 ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
but I never remember
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
SB923 Conner’s Law passed in VA. Join our advocacy movement while we
go state by state, changing laws as needed….
Because a disability doesn’t stop on a child’s 18th birthday.
Conquer for Conner
ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
57