World Autism Awareness Day

I reflect on our journey, my daughter’s journey with gratitude. I will never forget the day in 2012 when I made the difficult decision to leave my practice of law and walk into the unknown.   My sole purpose was to look forward and not backwards as we made challenging decisions about how we could bear support our daughter and give her the tools she needed to thrive.

There were many people on the journey who simply could nor wrap their mind around Autism. What is it!  Why does she act this way?  When is she going to change?  Will she grow out of it?  The questions infuriated me.

Every day I made a renewed decision to educate myself. To learn what it was like to walk in her shoes. One one occasion a student said she just did not understand. She said, “She looks so normal. She looks just fine.”  I said, “She is!”

The annual autism awareness event started then in 2016. Initially, my peers a psychologist, special needs educator and myself held a small gathering to help our students understand autism.

The next year the students requested more information- so in 2017 we brought in a canine therapy specialist.  In 2018, I received a small grant to host an expert. Dr. Mark Durand was our first official speaker. In 2019, we wanted to explore workforce and invited Vicki Westra of Autism Shifts to discuss how the Autistic population adds value to the work force. In 2020, Haley Moss the first Autistic attorney to pass the Florida Bar spoke eloquently and honestly about her experiences through her particular view.

I fill overwhelmed by the support I have received over the years and blessed to enlighten others who want to know what a family looks like. My daughter is wonderfully exceptional.

World Autism Day is an opportunity to learn about someone with a unique perspective.  Thank you for giving our family the opportunity to share.