Most people interacting with a disabled person will find themselves trying to make that person into "normal" human. In reality, disabled persons have their own agenda and their own way of connecting and being entertained. I haven't really had the choice in my life to not recognize this, because I am surrounded by it every day. Just being integrated into their way of thinking and their communities, even for short periods of time, has given me way more than I could ever give them.
Especially with Claire, I have seen this in big ways. I've had no choice but to realize that the disabled knows things that we don't know, about God and about being. There are a few times that I see this clearly from Claire. One example is on Claire's birthday, we usually give her a new pack of ten markers and some sheets of paper and she will think that's the best present she has ever gotten. She finds so much joy in little things. I know that Claire understands what truly matters in life way more than I ever will. Another way I see this is how non-judgmental and loving Claire is. She will go up to anyone, talk to them, compliment them, and give them a hug. It doesn't matter what they look like or what they've done. None of that matters. Claire still has the same joy and love flowing out of her in literally every situation. We need to recognize how valuable disabled lives really are.
A lot of people on the outside do see a disabled person as a problem that should be fixed, or a burden to be carried, which is very unfortunate. People need to recognize how valuable disabled persons lives really are. They are just as valuable as ours, people just need to look for their value in different ways that we do for a "normal" humans value. If their lives weren't valuable, families wouldn't pay $200,000 a year for these kids to live in a community that they love.
Claire has absolutely taught me a ton through her joy in the little details of life, being non-judgmental, and not ever holding grudges. I hope that through my experience you can understand a little more about the ins-and-outs of a life with autism.
Especially with Claire, I have seen this in big ways. I've had no choice but to realize that the disabled knows things that we don't know, about God and about being. There are a few times that I see this clearly from Claire. One example is on Claire's birthday, we usually give her a new pack of ten markers and some sheets of paper and she will think that's the best present she has ever gotten. She finds so much joy in little things. I know that Claire understands what truly matters in life way more than I ever will. Another way I see this is how non-judgmental and loving Claire is. She will go up to anyone, talk to them, compliment them, and give them a hug. It doesn't matter what they look like or what they've done. None of that matters. Claire still has the same joy and love flowing out of her in literally every situation. We need to recognize how valuable disabled lives really are.
A lot of people on the outside do see a disabled person as a problem that should be fixed, or a burden to be carried, which is very unfortunate. People need to recognize how valuable disabled persons lives really are. They are just as valuable as ours, people just need to look for their value in different ways that we do for a "normal" humans value. If their lives weren't valuable, families wouldn't pay $200,000 a year for these kids to live in a community that they love.
Claire has absolutely taught me a ton through her joy in the little details of life, being non-judgmental, and not ever holding grudges. I hope that through my experience you can understand a little more about the ins-and-outs of a life with autism.
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