My Autistic Son's Secret Life
Briefly

My Autistic Son's Secret Life
"Communication, verbal and otherwise, is a universally human right. Choosing when to communicate, or not, is also the right of any individual adult. It's important to respect an individual's chosen communication style."
"Nat is a quiet man. He gives nothing away. Ever since he was a little guy, he has preferred to speak his own language, a sing-song pattern of sounds that he matches with certain birdlike tilts of his head, and hand flutters."
"I want him to talk, because I want to know what he does with his days, what he observes, what he wants. What captures his imagination."
"But when he becomes anxious and isn't able to tell us what's wrong, his frustration can escalate into self-injury, so we schedule things for him to do, like Special Olympics basketball and swimming."
Communication, both verbal and non-verbal, is a universal human right. Individuals have the right to choose when and how to communicate. Respecting personal communication styles is crucial. The experience of a parent with an autistic son highlights the challenges of understanding his internal world. The son prefers a unique form of communication and struggles with English. The parent grapples with the desire for interaction while recognizing the importance of allowing autonomy. Activities like baking and sports provide engagement, but questions about the son's inner thoughts and preferences remain.
Read at Psychology Today
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