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Georgia Walk for Autism Posted By: Aaronsmom
Posted On: 04/14/2008
This Saturday was the Georgia Walk for Autism and boy was it amazing. Just 6 weeks ago was told by another mom that she was doing the Walk for Autism and was looking for donations. After a bit of thought I decided to give it a try. As busy as we've been all I did was e-mail family and friends and have them forward the e-mails along to others. I hoped to collect $200, maybe $250, but the automatic goal was $500! $500? There was no way I could raise $500. By the walk we had raised over $500. Aaron was so proud. His eyes would grow big as I updated him on the totals. For him it might as well have been $5000.
The best part came at the walk. We were surrounded by children and families with Autism. Just glancing around you could identify many of the children effected by their behaviors or even their blank stairs despite the color, wonder and excitement around them. Aaron was normal.
What did Aaron enjoy best? There were many games with little prizes; whistles, pencils, and best of all, stress balls! There is nothing better than little trinkets except for maybe the bubble machine. It spat out huge bubbles with smaller bubbles inside. This machine was surrounded by boys who watched as the bubble grew out of the turning plastic rings and then flapped, squealed, or grinned with excitement as the bubbles popped on their fingers. What a site to see! It made me long for simple pleasures like that, though maybe seeing my child so happy is pleasure enough for a life time.
I noticed other interesting trends this weekend. Aaron was not the only boy carrying a stuffed animal. I was in fact, surprised at how many boys his age and older had some little treasured friend clasped tightly in their hands. The past few weeks we have been carrying Mittens, a beany baby cat he received from his therapist. Mittens has certainly not taken Croaky's place in Aaron's heart, Aaron is just making sure all is fair and that Mittens has a chance to see the world. While Aaron is gone Croaky is spending time with his other friends or napping.
The other thing I noticed was how some people look at kids on the spectrum. I was standing with my NT daughter listening to a man giving me his sales pitch about special life insurance & estate planning for families with children with special needs. He kept looking down at Anne with very sad eyes. He referred to how I must have my hands full--which i really do with her, but only because she's the only girl and the baby of the family--and how we could use the extra help. I kinda got offended. Why is he sad? Aaron makes me happy and I do my best to make him happy. Sure, it can be a struggle at times, but like I said, it's a struggle with my NT kids, too! Don't look at my child like he's different or broken. I love him like he is. He has no right to be sad. I don't know why it bothered me so much. I guess part of it is that unless I invite you to share my pain, you can't have it.
It makes me wonder if I look at people that way. I don't think I do, but he may not have thought that either. If I find out that someone is very sick, has a birth defect, or is struggling in some other way do I pity them? Gosh, I hope not.
Now, I have gotten way off topic. I guess all that is left to say is it was such a wonderful day despite the clouds, rain, and the incredibly loud music that seemed a bit ironic to me considering all the Autistic people in attendance. If you have not been to one of these events, you should go next year. It was truly amazing and has definitely made me want to seek out other opportunities to participate in the local Autism community.
       
shannonj wrote this reply on 04/15/2008
Good for you! Sounds like you will be back next year too....What a wonderful way to spend a day, huh?

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