One will read comments to the effect of “I didn’t see any autistics when I was a kid”.  As in “autism is an epidemic!  I didn’t see it when I was a kid”.

Rather than take that on for the millionth time, let’s start Autism Awareness month with this:

Thank you to those who changed the world so that I can go into public with my obviously autistic kid.

When I was a kid, people with disabilities were shamed.  Mocked.  Told to stay out of the public’s eye.

The world has changed.  My kid’s life and mine are better for it.

Today I took my usual weekend morning walk with my kid.  At our local supermarket I saw someone watching us with that “this is a bit out of the ordinary” look.  One I don’t see too often, thankfully.

That person saw something more than an obviously autistic person in public.  That person saw an obviously autistic person being obviously autistic and being hugged by a smiling and obviously happy parent who was telling his obviously Autistic Kid how proud said father is of the obviously autistic kid.

I’ll let you read that through a few times to get what I said.

I don’t do that to set an example.  I don’t try to show people who aren’t used to obviously autistic people being in public that it’s OK.  I just love my kid and I’m allowed to show it publicly.

Because the world changed.

And if it keeps changing, just a little, because of me and my kid, I’m good with that.

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By Matt Carey