World Autism Awareness Day 2018

Hello everyone!

Today's post is a little different, it is something very close to my heart that I wanted to share.  Today is Autism Awareness Day. For those of you who don't know about Autism, it is a condition usually diagnosed when a child is very young and causes social, communicative, and behavioral impairments. There is a wide spectrum known as Autism Spectrum Disorders or ASD, meaning that an individual diagnosed with ASD can fall anywhere in this spectrum. Some individuals with Autism only have mild difficulties with socializing and communication, while others are severely affected and need help with day to day tasks.

When my sister was first diagnosed, she was around 2 years old. My parents noticed she would not turn her head to respond to her name. At first we thought it could be a hearing impairment, however, she passed the subsequent hearing test. We slowly started to notice lack of eye contact and lack of normal developmental milestones. After taking her to a slew of doctors, we received the diagnosis of Autism. Being young at the time, I had no idea what this was, how it would manifest, or what the future would be like. Now, almost 20 years later, I can say it has been a roller coaster ride for all of us that is still in motion! There have been days of tears and sadness and days of laughter and joy. We have learned to look at the big picture. We like to celebrate the little accomplishments and hope to improve day by day as we grow and learn together. Yes, it does require a lot of patience, effort, and time but people with autism find ways to express their love.  I like to believe their pure, innocent smiles and laughters are a sign they are happy, content, and peaceful.

I wish for one day I could see the world through my sister's eyes, this would give me a chance to know her better and know what I could do to help her.

For now, I hope we continue to shed light on this condition, stay positive, and help one another get through life's beautiful journey! And a huge Thank you to the special education teachers, aides, volunteers and mental health professionals for all that you do day in and day out!!

Thanks for stopping by! Please share your thoughts and comments :) <3