Having an autistic child has changed me in so may ways!  One of the many things that I define differently is, a hero. 

A hero used to be somebody larger than life, to me.  There were the comic books characters Super Man and Spider Man and Batman and Wonder Woman; but they were ALWAYS fictional to me, and not real heros.  My true heros were leaders, who stood up before us and proclaimed something compelling, or who exhibited extraordinary values.  Over the years, I had many heros.  I confess that many of them were people who did not give up on ME in spite of my profound lack of ability or comprehension: my 3rd grade teacher, my high school math teacher, my parish priest, my best friend, and then last but not least, my husband.  Autism changed that – it did not take away my old heros but added a bunch of new ones that I would never have imagined.  I now include the many people who work with special needs kids including: Angeline Sarabura, principal of The Gregory School for Exceptional Learning, and Mache Blok who taught m son at that school;  Amy, Nicole and Heather from ErinOakKids who made a difference to N and our whole family, the Principals, the Special Ed staff and the EAs at Our Lady of Peace School, whose love and kindness to N brings about the best experiences N could have at the school.   

I also want to recognize the hero-clerks at the Oakville ON retail stores that we frequent, especially Metro and Walmart, many who recognize N as special and are kind to him when we are in their stores.   It means alot to him and to me that we can shop there, make some noise, and eat some of the items before we pay for them.  THANKS – YOU ARE THE BEST HEROs EVER!

More heros – the staff of Autism Halton and particularly the young people that work at the summer camp!  You have made the best summer for N and I will never be afraid of summer break again!

Autism moms and dads please send me your autism heros!  Lets tell everybody who touches our kids lives that we appreciate them!