What Autistic Looks Like

Recently, rapper 50 Cent tweeted some rude messages about "special ed" and "autistic" kids. In response, many mom bloggers including those who have children that are autistic have been responding in mass. Even Holly Robinson Peete posted a letter in response, as she also has a 13 year old son who is autistic. She spoke clearly and succinct about how comments like his affect families with autistic children and concluded her letter with a picture of her son...this is what autism looks like.

My middle son, Ethan, will be 11 tomorrow. He has autism and this is what it looks like...

 Autism can be quiet and introspective...sometimes it is non-verbal..

 Autism can have a mind of it's own...independent of other disorders, yet completely intertwined.

 Autism can bring peace...showing a mom, dad, and family, what the important things in life are.

 Autism can be up for adventures, as long as it's on it's own terms.

 Autism can be fun and playful, recreating movie scenes over and over...even if just for it's own entertainment.

 Autism can be strong and powerful...not to be feared, but to be understood.

 Kids, like my son with autism, can be bright, intelligent kids that love to do what every other child likes to do. Their brain just has a different way of figuring things out.

 Kids with autism can often have a hard time getting along with other kids. Sometimes, they have no trouble...and can even find their own childhood crushes and feel love for someone else.

These kids, like my son, are not freaks...they are not kids to make fun of. As parents we will do anything we have to do for our kids, go to any lengths...most of the time, at the expense of our own personal time, money, and mental health. Our kids are our everything...and not even some celebrity rapper from Detroit can change that. You have messed with the wrong group of parents, this time!