I had the opportunity to go to a movie a couple of weeks ago. Many of us with special needs children don't seize that very often. However, it was a documentary on Autism. Of course benefiting an organization to pay for therapy for individuals with autism. I had no problem forking over money for that. And I think it is important to talk about what I thought about it.
It is about a man who has a son, nonverbal autistic, who goes across the US to interview families. These families are every where culturally. Their children were on different levels of the spectrum. Some severe to very moderate to high functioning. Because of his son he had started an organization. An organization to provide intensive therapy for children with autism. Like most of the families whom he interviewed he became very active with helping his son and other families on the spectrum. Others had tried to get bills past, talked to every president candidate, and raising money anyway they can.
There was a lot of good points to the movie. But you really had to look for them. As he tried very hard to paint a negative light on his life as well as the families. It starts out with him visiting families where English was the second language. And one had moved to the US for the services provided. Even though they were very successful in the country that they were in. You see in most countries outside of the US there is little to no help for people on the spectrum. The father had no regrets. Then they moved on to a young couple with three boys. And talked about having a child on the spectrum changed the way they viewed life. They use to walk around the mall and go I want that and that. The father literally looks around the house to see what he can sell to support his sons therapy. He is so thankful for the change in himself because of his son that he was tearing up. He called his son a gift. There were some parents that had regressive children. These are children that seem to be developing normally and then just start introverting. By all means the gentlemen who had done the film is one of those parents. His son was talking and just stopped talking.They really are looking for that cure. Looking for the glimpse of the child that they had saw prior to the regression. It is was hard for me to see that part. They are pretty sure something is to blame. And this above the rest was the feature of the film.
However, the point of a documentary is to capture life in its reality. Most of the parents wouldn't change their child. Save for a couple of parents who specifically said so. Most said this is what makes them who they are. And they are correct. Autism is part of who a person is. There was also parents who had to put their child into a home. Due to aggressive behavior. He is an adult, bigger than them. And they could not handle his meltdowns which happened more often than not. The adult sibling is attending school to get into the special needs field. And also a couple in Salt Lake City that recently had their son diagnosed. They were still coming to terms with it. It takes a while to come to terms with it. And a woman who started a women's support group that wanted to share some positive stories. However, there was a disclaimer at the bottom of the screen saying they couldn't go into all of that.
I'm going to get into that. In the autism community we tend to focus on the negatives. We as parents go woe is me. But each of these parents were benefiting in one way or another from having a child on the spectrum. It gave them a purpose. Even the father, the maker of the film had gone through 12 jobs prior to this film. And here I am sitting in a theater were he was able to obtain a grant for $50,000 to make this film. And parents trying to pass bills in their states to get insurance coverage for their child as well as others. People getting on committees. People getting degrees in therapy. All because their child has a spectrum disorder. Their children caused them to be better. And to understand life better just being who they are. The children are who they are. And in the film we got to see that. They stole the show. Their talents and love were displayed on the screen brightly.
The filmmaker went to Washington. He was going to talk to some lawmakers. He only talked to one. And again we went into the blame game again. This doesn't help the children who are on the spectrum or the parents at all. Not one thing obviously is to blame, otherwise, the kids that didn't get that which there are plenty even in my area would not have autism. Also, instead of looking favorably at the US for services they were very disheartened. Apparently they haven't looked into services outside of this country. Even listened to their first interview. It is bleak to say the least. And the United States is the best country to be in if you have a child with autism. People come here every day because of that.
People want the government to be responsible for the money to help these children. However, the government has proven irresponsible(I don't know if you noticed) with money. The money required to help is precious. Why put it in an irresponsible parties hands? I, myself, have been frustrated with the whole process wishing for another way. We as a community need to take care of these needs. We either need to pay more tax dollars or take that money that is not used in taxes and help the people that need help. And we can't look to someone who makes more to pay for it all. It has to be an all in. Communism doesn't work. Everybody pitches in. Something. The government can only do so much. We are stronger than the government if we want to be. That is how it was set up to be. As a community we can set up organizations to help every child get the therapy they need. Also instead of most of the donated money for autism going to research. It should be split evenly to families that need therapy for their children. We need to take care of the children.
Lastly, We in the autism community let negativity run rampid. The typicals are deathly scared of autism. Why? Because there is nothing but negativity out there. Right now they are desperate to find a way to detect it in the womb. That's were the money is going folks. We already got 90% of the down syndrome population eliminated. Now let us go after the Autism community. Nay we need to let our children shine. We need to let people know that these children a *people* are a blessing. Not a horrible thing that has happened to interrupt what would have been a very dull life. My child IS a gift. She is the grace from God that was given to me. What purpose in life do we have if we do not have a purpose? This is OUR purpose. It is God given. Sometimes we like to squander the wonderful gifts that God has given us. I pray I never do so. I pray that the challenge that he has given our family and all of ours is served in His name.
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