We Aren't Broken

This video has become one of my favorites of all the random stuff that floats around on Facebook, I am totally a junkie when it comes to videos on Facebook! Anyways, this video I find most important for those outside of the field because the message from this dad is so inspiring and it really shows what love can do for kids such as Chris that have been diagnosed on the spectrum.

In the center, we get a lot of parents who are at their wits end, they have had enough and they feel defeated. It is actually quite common. Like the father in this video said, it is a 24 hour a day job. It never ends. We have children, like Chris, who are non-vocal, self-injurious, or violent, or possibly all of the above. It can be exhausting for any parent, even those who pretend they have it all together.

It is my job to help these children, and my job requires a lot of love and patience. I am no saint. It drives me absolutely insane when people say I am a "special person" for what I chose to do for a living. I will not lie and say my job is easy, because it is far from that. I have been hit, bit, kicked, you name it. But I love my kids and I know it is not their fault.

The best message I get from this video is that these children are not "broken" and do not need to be cured. They need love and understanding. We must all understand that they have bad days, just like we do. Could you imagine not being able to communicate when you are scared, or hungry, or tired? I know I could not. The world needs to realize that Autism does not break a child, it simply means their light shines a little differently than ours. With love, understanding, and a commitment to caring for these children, we can all make their light shine brighter.