Sophia’s Voice

Will she grow out of it? Is there medication that can fix it? Have you tried a gluten free diet? I heard it can cure autism.

For those who are unaware, there is no cure for autism. This is because autism is not a disease. I understand that these questions are not meant to offend but the truth is they are hurtful to special needs parents. This way of thinking basically places autism in the same category as an illness and it’s time to put an end that to this stigma. I encourage you to twist the way you view autism, as well as alter the way you speak about it.

Let’s think about slightly inconvenient traits people are born with every day such as vision imperfections or hearing impairment. If you have a child born with a unique characteristic like this you most likely begin by seeking the support available in order to help them function sufficiently in everyday life. If your child has imperfect vision, you get them glasses. If your child is born with hearing loss, you get them a hearing aid. As an autism parent, you seek the therapy necessary for addressing your child’s specific needs. Would you want your child to feel as if they were less than, simply because they needed assistance to see or hear clearly? Of course not!

Autism by definition is a developmental disorder of variable severity that is characterized by difficulty in social interaction, communication, and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior. This condition effects 1 in 44 children today in the United States.

Autism spectrum disorder is far from a disease. It is not something I will raise my daughter to be ashamed of. Autism is a part of who she is. It is so easy to find the negative traits of autism.. but what you may not know is autism also goes hand in hand with several strong characteristics.

Autistic individuals are often extremely intelligent, creative, and tenacious. People on the spectrum tend to have an extremely logical way of thinking, they are able to memorize information quickly, they are generally very honest, they find joy in the simplest of things, they possess wonderful and unique problem solving skills, and have an extremely unique view of the world. I may have a biased opinion, but I am unable to see the negative aspect of any of these traits.

Choosing to see and appreciate my beautiful daughter for who she is rather than focus on who society and Social norms say she should be, is absolutely the best decision I’ve ever made as a parent. Sure, she has had her struggles but we were able to overcome them all together.. and we always will.

So please, do not assume that just because my daughter is different she is less. I can assure you that you would be extremely surprised to learn that although Sophia has a hard time carrying a conversation, she actually possesses a vocabulary of 500 or more words, (I personally know that she is able to say whatever she wants.) She also taught herself to read and we have discovered that at eight years old she is able to read well above 3rd grade level.

So to answer the question I have been asked so many times, no. There is no cure for autism. Do I wish my sweet Sophia did not have to struggle as much as she has to accomplish simple things that come so naturally to other children? Yes, Ofcourse. No parent wants to see their child struggle. Would I change anything about her? Absolutely not. Autism does not define who my daughter is as an individual.. but it is a part of who she is. I will always teach her to hold her head high, carry herself with confidence, and celebrate every single part of herself that makes her the beautiful person she is.