I don’t normally make a big deal out of it, but my second oldest boy is autistic. He is a blessing and a joy to me, my wife and all of his brothers and sisters. Having said that, he is a scapegoat. He is an easy mark. If he is accused of wrongdoing in the wrong way, then his response is always the same, “NO I DIDN’T”. For my wife and I, we know that this means that he was accused in a non-productive fashion. Outsiders, even extended family think this means he is a liar. His siblings have in days now past used this to make him look guilty even when innocent. We have been able to stop this approach with the occasional exception of the 10yr old twins.
One might assume this would put an end to it, but his cousins still do it, and his aunts and uncles have taken to accusing him without even evidence of wrongdoing. He is brilliant, he is very artistic, and has deep thoughts that confound those that really listen to him. He has an active imagination, and the rare ability to suck others into his storytelling. Despite all of that, he is treated as though he is incapable at best or a misanthropic miscreant at worst. He is constantly underestimated,
No two autistic people are exactly the same, and even if you think you know autism, don’t buy into the trap of treating them in any other way than that in which they individually have earned. Don’t underestimate them, they have surprises hidden inside that are only able to come out under certain circumstances, and those change from person to person. Most of all take the time to really understand them, my son when approached correctly will quickly respond with, “Oh I’m sorry.”, if he has done wrong. If you learn their language then you will know what they are really saying.
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