At the time of writing this post, we enter the time of Advent, which means ‘Coming’, in Latin. It is a period leading up to Christmas. But it is also an important period in the church’s year.
It serves as an important reminder for Christians to prepare for and commemorate Christ’s birth. It can be seen as the light coming to dispel the darkness which, for me, is hope for the future replacing any doubts, despair and fears. This may refer to the hope that things will work out for you satisfactorily in the future if you’re going through a difficult period at present.
In case you haven’t read my earlier posts, autism can present us with many challenges, not just for the one with the condition, but for, and not limited to, caregivers, close family, friends, relatives, teachers and even employers. It largely affects the way one may communicate and interact with others, and the wider world in general.
What autism is from my perspectives and experiences
An example of a difficult period for me was trying to find ways to help me make progress at school. I experienced language development delays and took literal views of language, especially more complicated forms of language, like idioms. It also took longer for me to understand new concepts and what one was asking me to do. You can read about what measures were put in place for me in the links below concerning the two important subjects of maths and English.
Understanding mathematical concepts
When I attended primary school, it was during a time when little was known about autism. There was concern that too much time would be devoted to my needs, thus preventing other children from getting the education they’d deserve. There can be the challenges of choosing a suitable school, and in my case there was talk of special education. Read about my experiences of how one with an autism spectrum disorder can be integrated into mainstream school.
Integration into mainstream school
One issue that has been mentioned is the time it is taking to diagnose some people. I have included some links below to examples of this.
Rotherham children waiting “too long” for autism spectrum disorder diagnosis | The Star
When I was diagnosed, it meant appropriate support measures could be put in place for me, especially with regards to my education. These measures helped me to progress steadily, even though it would take me longer than my peers to achieve grades I’d be happy with.
I know there may be some of you out there who may not believe in God, but I find I can turn to him in times of difficulty. Prayer can be very powerful, especially in times of difficulty and uncertainty.
Here is a story on the National Autistic Society's website. It concerns a boy with autism who had been excluded from school in the past, and has now found a place at a school where he is happy. We must pray that more like him find schools where they’ll be welcomed, well supported, successful and content, and that schools will receive adequate funding and support to aid their support of autistic pupils. This, for me, would represent a significant step towards brighter futures for them.
And of course we mustn’t forget about those waiting for diagnoses and their loved ones as well, along with the medical personnel in their work.
My faith in God is very important to me. You can find out more about this in the link below.
There will inevitably be difficult periods for all of us to go through in our everyday lives for many different reasons. And autism causes those with the condition to experience many tough moments and those connected to them. However, one should always have hope that they’ll experience good times again, even if they need support in doing so.
Have you ever wondered how creative writing can serve as a bridge to understanding and accepting neurodiversity? In this podcast episode, I share my personal journey with language development and how I overcame challenges, like the literal interpretation of idioms, aiming to become a storyteller promoting neurodiversity awareness. A key theme of the episode is […]
In this latest podcast episode, I explore the metaphorical connection between trees and individuals on the autistic spectrum. Just as trees flourish under unique conditions, where they benefit from supportive underground networks and nurturing environments, people can thrive too, when their individual needs are recognised, nurtured, and embraced. Drawing on personal experiences and scientific insights, […]
Reading is an activity from which we can get information and meaning from written words. Some books can contain facts about certain things, like objects, people and places. Others can be story books, some with pictures, and may be based on assumed characters and settings. Reading is an important activity in different ways, and is […]
