Where Advocacy, Special Needs Parenting, & Life Collide
To “I Wish I Didn’t Have Aspergers”: An #AutismPositivity2012 Flash Blog Event
A Message of Hope, Happiness, and the Other Side of an Aspergers Diagnosis
Note from Kat: I have reblogged this with Leah’s permission from her site, 30 Days of Autism, because I support this event, I want the Cafe to take part in it, and I think you should too. I have more posts coming down the pike (we were all sick here in Moodyland) but I didn’t want this one to get lost in the shuffle.
What would you say to the person desperate enough to type into Google Search, “I wish I didn’t have Aspergers…”? How would you encourage them if they are already feeling overwhelmed, all alone, scared, uncertain, desperate, depressed? Now keep reading as Leah lays out this atypical Flash event:
© Leah Kelley, Thirty Days of Autism, (2012)
A couple of weeks ago, someone somewhere googled, “I Wish I Didn’t Have Aspergers.” The phrase popped up in a blogging dashboard and struck the blogger as being particularly sad. She wished she could have answered that someone, and that sparked an idea, which kindled a dialogue, and led to this action by an awesome group of bloggers, whom I am proud to call my friends.
We don’t know who it was…
We don’t know where (s)he lives…
We have no idea if (s)he found what he/she was looking for in that search…
We do know that search directed that person to a blog. We do know the searcher clicked on it in an attempt to find what they needed. And we do know enough about the challenges of autism to know that person is likely not alone in that sentiment.
So, we got to thinking. What would we say to that person? What if it was a kid, desperately trying to make it through tough years of intolerance and ignorance? What if it were a person who might never stumble across the amazing voices speaking for autism acceptance? What if that person thought himself all alone? What would we say about the present? What would we say about the future? What would we say about happiness? And hope?
Each of us in the autism community – self-advocates, parent advocates, friends and family, teachers, health professionals – we would all have different messages for IWishIDidn’t HaveAspergers. But likely a common thread would be that we would all try to send the message that there is a brighter future and that friendship and support are out there.
We are asking every blogger in the autism community to write a message of positivity to IWishIDidn’tHaveAspergers. So that next time that individual (or another) types that sad statement into Google, he or she will find what they need – support, wisdom, and messages of hope from those who understand.
And – for those of you who do not blog but wish to join in – please post your positivity message to http://autismpositivity.wordpress.com
Please join with us on the last day of Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month – April 30th – in a Flash Blog of Autism Positivity.
To participate:
- Publish your post on April 30th in the following title format: “ [Your Blog] to ‘I Wish I Didn’t Have Aspergers’: #AutismPositivity2012?
- Share your post on Twitter and Facebook, using that hashtag (#AutismPositivity2012)
- Add your link to the Autism Positivity website and grab the badge.
- Share/reblog this message to your blog, page, etc.
This Autism Positivity Flash Blog Event is the brainchild of Thinking About Perspectives, a group of bloggers committed to increasing autism awareness and acceptance via open and respectful dialogue. We are: 30 Days of Autism, Outrunning the Storm, The Third Glance, Aspie Kid,Flappiness Is, Quirky and Laughing, Life on the Spectrum, Fairy Tale Forgotten, The Aspie Side of Life, and Inner Aspie.
Will you join us in posting a message of honesty, but also of hope, to “I wish I didn’t have Aspergers” on April 30th? Comment to join in the discussion here at the Cafe!
Katrina Moody
Graphic Designer, Wordpress Addict, Blogger at Kat's Media & More
I'm a special needs parent before just about everything else in life, but also a passionate advocate for my three boys and husband, who all have a bit of awesomeness about them. Awesomeness = Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome, Autism, Epilepsy, Dyslexia, Cerebral Palsy, and more. It all adds up to some awesome kids and an amazing family.
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