What though if the brilliance inside a person is not readily seen by the naked eye? Some may say, "If you have to look closer, it must not be there". Children and adults living with autism have brilliance, it just may take time to see it. The Autism Society of Indiana's Dana Renay sees the brilliance that those with autism have, so much so, that for the month of April, which is Autism Awareness Month, she urges all of us to "Celebrate the brilliance that is our children".
There is one thing to help us see the brilliance that people dealing with autism possess, and no, its not a complicated math equation. Dana says "It is simply education and awareness. Once we start talking about autism as something that is amazing and that brilliant things come out of people with autism, people will start to embrace it, instead of push it away and the more confident the person on the spectrum will be to try things they haven't tried before". The saying goes, "It takes a village to raise a child", which means that parents need help in the raising of their child with autism. That is where the Autism Society of Indiana steps in. When I interviewed Dana, she also brought along with her, Lauren Hoffman, an Indiana Ally. Lauren was one of the sweetest, happiest and committed Indiana Allies. She has been touched by autism in her own family. Her 19 year old brother has autism and is doing brilliant things, so in her work as an Ally, she no doubt thinks of her brother as she works to help others!! Thank you Lauren!!
The people who work at the Autism Society of Indiana have experienced the heartbreak of the first diagnosis to the overwhelming joy of seeing goals of life, even small ones, being reached by those with autism. Help and support is what is needed when times are tough and uncertain - especially when it comes to a diagnosis such as autism for a precious child.
A helping hand is what the Autism Society of Indiana wants to be for you! They want to help find the brilliance that is your child!!
