Autism Therapy: empower

           There are times when I find that I cannot see the forest beyond the considerable tree in front of me.   As a parent with a son on the ASD spectrum I alternate between days of feeling that I am doing a pretty good job (those rare occasions when I am pretty well rested and relatively centered) and days when I feel totally inadequate in my efforts to support, advocate for, teach my son all while trying to do the only thing I ever wanted to do for him…be a mom.   I spent the last several days trying to think of something meaningful that I could contribute to others through this blog.   While I am the self published author of an autism awareness children’s book series and self professed autism awareness advocate, I am not a specialist, an educator or therapist.    I am basically just a mom trying to make a difference and hoping in some way to help someone else by promoting basic autism awareness in an effort to bridge communication between what has become in my mind us (those living on the spectrum and their families) and the world.

           While at a book signing this weekend at a local Walden Books I had the pleasure of having a conversation with a speech therapist.    As I described my books to her and the intentions behind their creation I felt compelled to add that I was not a specialist with educational credentials in the form of letters behind my name.   I was a mom basically just “trying to stay in my lane and do what I do” which is in essence trying to keep autism in the minds of those in the community in an effort to make my son’s world less  an alien place.  I struggle daily with my sons’ diet, sleep patterns, education, and delayed development of social skills.   I struggle with the thoughts of what lies ahead next week, next month, next year.   I struggle with us both trying to find independent identities as for as long as I can remember I was his voice, his conduit to the world.   I struggle with the challenges of him growing up with the challenges that ASD presents and the pain that that growth entails.   I am, as I said, just a mom.   The therapist laughed and remarked that without the moms (and dads) who are the strong voices for our children, where would she and others in the special needs community be.  As parents we are our children’s best advocates.   That being said, I hope that something I say here will be enlightening, comforting, empowering, and understanding to others and continue to work, in my lane, to add my voice to all the other voices of parents/advocates to make a difference in the lives of children like my Joshua, and all the other Joshua’s on the spectrum.   My anthem of empowerment for my son, my family and indeed for everyone touched by ASD is and continues to be there are NO SMALL VICTORIES…Every Accomplishment Should Be Celebrated!  Hopefully I will be able to share something that will help another parent see around that tree in our path, if only for a shared glimpse of the forest beyond.

 Jacqueline Williams-Hines is the author of the No Small Victories autism awareness children’s book series and recently released her third book, “Joshua, That’s Sooo Slimming!” which can be purchased from her Author House website, www.jacquelinewilliamshinesbooks.com as well as other retail bookstore outlets such as Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com.