RFK, autism, and a dad
Sharing part of a post, and a profound description of autism from a parent’s Facebook post.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1AFJv2s9Jx/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Website:
4-18-25
Recently, the Secretary of Health and Human Services — said people living with autism “will never pay taxes, hold a job, go on a date, or use a toilet unassisted.
In short - he said people like my son are broken.
…
I’ve spent the last two decades learning from my son that the polar opposite of what our Health Czar claims to be true.
So today, I’m not here to argue—I’m here to testify. Not with statistics. Not with rage. But with love.
***
-what autism has taught me-
my son’s 25-year journey with
autism has taught me
that life isn't about fixing
what I think has been broken
there is
no fixing
people
there is nothing
to fix
autism isn't another word
for broken
I swear
there is nothing
to fix
people living with autism
aren't a leaky dishwasher
or a car that
has a permanent
check engine light on
people living with autism
are not broken
they are
people!
~autism isn't simply a Rubik’s Cube
~autism isn't just an escape room
autism is a piece of exotic stained glass
that reflects the light of creation in ways
we have never seen before
autism is an ancient
language where
sarcasm and insincerity
have no translation
it is the lost tongue of
warm tones and
six hour smiles
it is the language of
hearts sewn on sleeves and
honest raw sentiment
autism is the inherent language of
humanity where the only vowels
that are counted are U & I
I spent years
trying to fix
autism
until I learned
that the person
who needed fixing
was me
my child not only
had to live with
autism but he
also had to live
with my ego
I could not see
that true beauty
lies in what
is different
I could not see
that our quest
for perfection
is the slowest
poison of all
there was no need
to repair a mosaic
there was only being willing to understand my son by learning
his cipher
of autism
~it wasn't about repair
~it was all about connection
it is about finding
a way to speak to
each other
despite the
static in our
radio signal
it is all about
building a bridge
between our hearts
that is wide enough
to transport all of
my love for him
it was about
holding his
trembling hands when
he got lost
in our world of
symbols and
subtle glances
it was about showing
up every day
and becoming a
candle even when
I was a sea of dark thoughts
autism has taught me
that life isn't growing a symmetrical
garden of matching red roses
autism taught me
that life is about
watching wildflowers
grow between the cracks
in the pavement
~ there is no typical
~ nothing is normal
~ this is all a wonder village
every person
is a unique creation
that demands to
be honored
autism taught me
that rainbows don’t
contain all the primary
colors
there are millions of
more hues to this life
than there are names
to call them
~ autism isn't just a shade of blue
autism is the color
of love
and courage
and the soul
and searching for a single
burst of light in the darkness
autism isn't another word
for broken
I swear
~ john roedel
