World Autism Day

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. For some of you, autism is a disorder you know little about, and for others, it is a disorder that has re-written the course you thought your life would take. If you are in the latter category, you know how you and autism have become one--the break between indistinguishable.

I write this today to ask that each person take a few minutes to pray for those of us who deal with this disorder on a minute-by-minute basis and to pray for those parents who are about to be devestated by their child's diagnosis, left to wonder "What now?"

Pray for our medical community to figure out a cause and a cure; also pray they will all come together in their understanding of the disorder. Believe me, there are still some doctors out there who do not believe autism is real. Pray for the insurance companies, who still do not cover many of the therapies these people need to become integrated members of society.

Pray for our schools who are faced with the monumental task of educating our kids with the limited resources provided. With the federal mandates such as "No Child Left Behind", our schools have had to become miracle workers to provide everything our kids need to be sucessful.

Pray for our government to fund research into not only cause and cure, but into therapies that could enrich the lives of the millions with this disorder. Pray for Governor Pawlenty to change his mind on cutting services to these people in order to balance the budget. With tough economic times, these people need more support than ever.

And, last but certainly not least, pray for society to learn to love our kids. They are not defiant or disrespectful: they don't just need "a good spanking". These kids have to learn how to survive in a world they do not understand and that does not understand them. Daily tasks and simple phrases we all take for granted as "common knowledge" have to be specifically broken down and taught to our kids, which is a difficult yet rewarding task.

I love my son Wyatt with every ounce of my being. I have fought every battle imaginable an sacrificed so much to give him the chance at a successful life. I am so proud of everything he has accomplished and has yet to accomplish. He has made me slow down, stop to smell the roses and to be thankful for everything I have in life.

Happy Autism Awareness Day everyone!

Jessika