I hope that this page and all pages that will follow it in this particular category will be informative and encouraging!

We here in the House O’Quill live with a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Now, for some folks, that sounds scary.  Spousal Unit initially had visions of Rain Man. Some folks think immediately of little boys or girls who sit in a corner, oblivious to the world.

But see, having autism doesn’t mean you are immediately consigned to that type of behavior. On the contrary, there are ways of reaching an autistic person that are within anyone’s capability.

My son “Builder” is a high-functioning autistic child.  He has learned to communicate. He has a sense of humor. He is fascinating with many unusual preoccupations. He is not a “savant” by any means, but he is a really cool kid.

Within these pages, as I get them developed, I hope to share our life here, our struggles with getting him identified, challenges with domestic life, stories of his school life, and the wonderful glimpses inside his mind.

Many people with autism lack “connections” in their brains that neuro-normal people have. I liken this to having some bridges out. You can’t replace them; they’re gone.  Still, rivers need to be crossed for connections to be made.  This is not about curing someone with autism. It’s about teaching them how to interact with the world. On terms that they can understand.

It’s about finding them the stepping stones to cross the rivers of the mind.  Show them the other side, encourage their interest in that other side, and then help them cross with the use of unconventional stepping stones.

And then, it’s about letting them DO it, and cheering them on all the while.

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