My Only Hope

Photo from the 1977 Star Wars film Episode IV: A New Hope

Autism is all over my feed right now.

Yours too I bet.

My community is divided on so many issues.

The world is divided on so many issues.

Boy, I wish I could wave a magic wand and bring us together in peace and harmony.

My journey is mine alone.

I believe my difficult birth brought autism into my life.

I am not here to challenge that.

I believe there are many unknowns to my autism diagnosis.

I respect that my walk with autism is not like my neighbor’s perhaps.

I am here for learning more about it.

Knowledge is power.

Likewise, words have power.

We need words of hope right now more than ever.

Autism is challenging and heartbreaking at times.

My journey is my own.

I can only speak of my own experiences.

I wish sometimes that I could make it disappear.

I dream of my voice.

What would it sound like?

I dream of dating.

Of going to college.

Of living independently.

I want all of this and so much more.

But all of these things do not make me more human.

I am human.

Figuring out what causes autism is important.

But providing supports and services in this moment for our families is also critical.

We are here.

We are human.

We need words of encouragement.

We need to be included in conversations involving us.

Love the saying - “Nothing about us without us.”

We need open minds.

Open to the realization that there is more inside the Autistic brain than meets the eye.

We need open eyes.

Open to see the value and gifts of those with neurological differences.

We need hope, Obi-Wan.

“Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.” (IYKYK)

In all seriousness, we breathe hope.

In and out.

We know of our differences.

We know of our challenges.

No reminders are necessary.

Give us hope.

Remind us you have our backs.

With your words.

Through your actions.

Love the Italian Proverb:

“Hope is the last thing ever lost.”

Never lose hope, my friends.