World Autism Day!

Today is World Autism Day, it is a day to really stop and think.

Is that child naughty?
Is that child spoilt?
Is she a bad mother?
Or does that child have autism?

I did try to get a photo of the girls in rainbow clothes but they were being rather stubborn and said no so I thought I would share with you a poem that a friend of mine posted on her facebook page today, she has a son called Matthew who has Aspergers.

“My name is Mathew; I’m different to you
I don’t see the world the same as you do.
You see a classroom and I see a chair
I don’t always notice what else is in there.
Too much information keeps coming my way
… It’s so hard to cope with, day after day.
You show me so much that I don’t always see
One step at a time is the best thing for me.
Bright lights and loud noises upset me so much
An unusual smell, or somebody’s touch.
When you look in my eyes and I’m looking away
I’m not being rude if I don’t hear what you say.
I’m not being awkward; I’m just doing my best
I’m striving so hard to be just like the rest.
The times when you think I’ve not really tried
If only you knew how that hurts me inside.
I want you to like me the way I like you
If only you saw things from my point of view.
Your life and my life both run parallel
Yours seems like heaven, mine’s sometimes hell.
Whenever you’re frustrated at the things that I do
Remember
You could have been me and I could have been you.”

For more on World Autism Day why not head over to A boy with Aspergers