Blue for Global Autism Awareness Day

#sareespeak #womenofsareespeak #cotton #batik #166 #SS 11/2022 #autism

#worldautismawarenessday

Saturday, 2nd April was World Autism Day.
I draped blue that day but have only managed to post today. Sans my red lipstick.
A happy blue batik light cotton saree.
A Day to not just Be aware but to Increase that awareness.
As Pete Wharmby, autistic speaker, writer and advocate says “More than simply being aware of us, we want people accepting us for who we are and appreciating us for our difference”. (Al Jazeera article, unable to post links here).

Autistic souls are sadly labelled eccentric. I’d read “For the love of Ann” in my preteens in the 70s. I wondered not what it would be like to be Anne but to be her sibling. Would i protect her?Understand her? Or would I get frustrated with her not engaging, her tantrums?
And I was also upset with her being smacked. At that time, that was the only thing the parents felt they could do to stop the tantrums.
As I grew older, a little wiser, I realised being judgemental was the last thing a family and child struggling to process and cope, needed.
I’ve worked with blind/deafblind young adults on the spectrum to hone their Adaptive Technology skills.
There were so many factors I needed to be aware of.
That I needed to listen, really listen.
To look out for triggers that could bring about meltdowns.
To not attempt to maintain eye contact or shake hands if that upset the child.
Once, a teen had received some unpleasant news that day and had a meltdown when I asked him to work on one his devices. It was tough. For me, for the child, for the resource teacher with me that day.

I do not profess to know much about this syndrome.
But I do know that I, like so many of us, must respect, embrace, include.
I used to tell my special students that they had superpowers and we had tools to get them coping and excelling.
I know I’m not spot on with posting this on the actual Date. However, I know also that I must be aware and conscious always. About being respectful, tolerant, understanding, inclusive, non judgemental, supportive and having a host of basic human courtesies.