Community

“Your son has Autism.”

I instantly felt sick to my stomach.  Tears welled up in my eyes.  My heart sank:  What would this mean for our son, ‘Matthew’s’ future?

I felt alone and scared.  My husband, ‘Steve’, and I didn’t know anyone else whose child lived with Autism.  This was going to be a tough lonely journey.

Little did we know that people around us would start community building.

Immediately, my mom and mother-in-law both stepped up to the plate.  They became a lifeline for Steve and I.  They took turns babysitting Matthew’s brother, ‘John’, while we went to different therapies with Matthew.  Both of them started to read books about Autism in order to understand what it’s like to live with Autism, in order to support our family.  My mother-in-law helped me research the benefits of a gluten-free, dairy-free diet.  I had heard that it helps many children who live with Autism.  (I will write more about this in a future blog!)

And the list goes on – our parents, our siblings and their spouses were always offering help where ever it was needed.

The woman who ran the daycare that Matthew went to told me to call her best friend, whose own son had Autism.  I met with her right away and she explained the government funding for therapies that was available in our community.  As well, she shared a little bit of what life was like for her family.

In Kindergarten, it was suggested that Matthew would benefit from a volunteer peer role model during speech therapy.  But who to ask?  Through a mutual friend, we found ‘Miss B.’  Both she and her mother were very happy to participate.  And Miss B has turned into Matthew’s best friend, and Steve and I are good friends with her parents now too.

In grade 2, a student on the playground at recess was trying to get Matthew to say ‘bad words.’  One of the boys from his class went to find Miss B, and together they told Matthew that he shouldn’t be saying those words.  How amazing is that!  These kids were 7 years old and already community building on their own.

Recently, our Autism Assistance dog needed expensive leg surgery.  A friend of Steve’s had a brilliant idea, and together with my best friend, they called all of our other friends.  They each chipped-in, raising enough money to pay for the whole surgery!

These are just a few examples of the support that surrounds our family.  Steve and I feel extremely grateful.

To all of you in our ‘community’ – I want you to know that you have positively contributed to my son’s future.  From the depths of my heart:  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

** Some names have been changed to honour people’s right to privacy