Don't hesitate to talk about your differently-abled child
Last week I interviewed a senior media professional to get her insights for an article that I am working on. After getting done with the interview, I thought I should tell her about my blog. It turned out that apart from her media consulting firm she also ran a not-for-profit venture which supported causes related to the environment as well woman and child nutrition. When she told me that she was
looking at an inclusive set up for her not-for-profit venture, I didn't miss an opportunity to ask her if Anshul could intern with her for a couple of weeks after he finished his board exams in March this year. She at once agreed and I came back thrilled as I not just got a fantastic interview, I also managed to fix an internship for Anshul.
The reason I am narrating this incident is because I have come across many parents of kids in the autistic spectrum who hesitate to talk about them. They are quite secretive and don't like talking about their kids limitations. But my point is that if you don't share your journey and concerns there is no way you can know about the opportunities that are awaiting your child. Had I not discussed about my son with the founder of the media company, I wouldn't have known about her vision to have an inclusive work place.
I fully understand that the world doesn't understand challenges of parents of autistic kids. Often one finds herself/himself getting bewildered glances from onlookers as to why the child is behaving weird. When they come to know that the child is differently abled it is invariably an attitude of sympathy. And sympathy is the last thing that one wants. I have friends who don't speak to Anshul as they just don't know what to talk to him. They pick up a conversation with my older son and Anshul feels bad about being ignored. These friends are great individuals, but they either don't have the empathy to deal with a differently abled child or are ignorant. In most cases it's the latter. I have visited close relatives who would put away their precious displays fearing that Anshul would break them. My house is full of artefacts that I have collected from across the globe and Anshul has never meddled with any of them.
I can write a book on my experiences with these unempathetic or ignorant set of people. Despite all this, I never hesitate to share with people my journey with Anshul. I have always been upfront and it has worked in my favour. When Anshul's autism was detected, I was working for a leading newspaper. At that point of time I needed to work out of home, but a daily newspaper had its limitations and my employers couldn't allow me to work from home. When I sent my resignation letter, the Editor, very graciously told me that he would take me back whenever I was ready to join back. My subsequent jobs were in magazines and all my Editors have whole-heartedly supported me and that is only because I clearly told them about my challenges. All of them told me I could come to office for a while and work from home or anywhere as long as I did my work. I have seldom missed deadlines.
I would have never been able to put my son in a regular school had I not met special needs expert Medha Lotlikar. I got to know about about her from a friend who I had metat a get-together. Again, had I not discussed about Anshul, I would have never known about Medha. I have never really had the time to part of the various autism groups in my city, but I have always openly talked about it.
Anshul always looks forward for the monsoon trek organised by Bohemian Adventures every year. Anusha, the founder of the adventure company, is a former journalist and a good friend. When I told her about Anshul, she said she would be more than happy to take him for treks, and now it's an event that Anshul eagerly looks forward (I will share details of the trekking experience in my following blogs).
In fact, ever since I have started writing this blog, I have connected with people who are doing exemplary work in the field of special needs. I have come across parents of autistic kids who have inspiring stories.
If you are a parent of an autistic or a differently abled child, please do open up and talk about it. You never know what kind of opportunities are awaiting you.
Apart from my own, I also want to tell inspiring stories of others too. There will be so much to learn. If you have an inspiring story about your differently abled child do write me at ajitas02@gmail.com
Keep sharing!
looking at an inclusive set up for her not-for-profit venture, I didn't miss an opportunity to ask her if Anshul could intern with her for a couple of weeks after he finished his board exams in March this year. She at once agreed and I came back thrilled as I not just got a fantastic interview, I also managed to fix an internship for Anshul.
The reason I am narrating this incident is because I have come across many parents of kids in the autistic spectrum who hesitate to talk about them. They are quite secretive and don't like talking about their kids limitations. But my point is that if you don't share your journey and concerns there is no way you can know about the opportunities that are awaiting your child. Had I not discussed about my son with the founder of the media company, I wouldn't have known about her vision to have an inclusive work place.
I fully understand that the world doesn't understand challenges of parents of autistic kids. Often one finds herself/himself getting bewildered glances from onlookers as to why the child is behaving weird. When they come to know that the child is differently abled it is invariably an attitude of sympathy. And sympathy is the last thing that one wants. I have friends who don't speak to Anshul as they just don't know what to talk to him. They pick up a conversation with my older son and Anshul feels bad about being ignored. These friends are great individuals, but they either don't have the empathy to deal with a differently abled child or are ignorant. In most cases it's the latter. I have visited close relatives who would put away their precious displays fearing that Anshul would break them. My house is full of artefacts that I have collected from across the globe and Anshul has never meddled with any of them.
I can write a book on my experiences with these unempathetic or ignorant set of people. Despite all this, I never hesitate to share with people my journey with Anshul. I have always been upfront and it has worked in my favour. When Anshul's autism was detected, I was working for a leading newspaper. At that point of time I needed to work out of home, but a daily newspaper had its limitations and my employers couldn't allow me to work from home. When I sent my resignation letter, the Editor, very graciously told me that he would take me back whenever I was ready to join back. My subsequent jobs were in magazines and all my Editors have whole-heartedly supported me and that is only because I clearly told them about my challenges. All of them told me I could come to office for a while and work from home or anywhere as long as I did my work. I have seldom missed deadlines.
I would have never been able to put my son in a regular school had I not met special needs expert Medha Lotlikar. I got to know about about her from a friend who I had metat a get-together. Again, had I not discussed about Anshul, I would have never known about Medha. I have never really had the time to part of the various autism groups in my city, but I have always openly talked about it.
Anshul always looks forward for the monsoon trek organised by Bohemian Adventures every year. Anusha, the founder of the adventure company, is a former journalist and a good friend. When I told her about Anshul, she said she would be more than happy to take him for treks, and now it's an event that Anshul eagerly looks forward (I will share details of the trekking experience in my following blogs).
In fact, ever since I have started writing this blog, I have connected with people who are doing exemplary work in the field of special needs. I have come across parents of autistic kids who have inspiring stories.
If you are a parent of an autistic or a differently abled child, please do open up and talk about it. You never know what kind of opportunities are awaiting you.
Apart from my own, I also want to tell inspiring stories of others too. There will be so much to learn. If you have an inspiring story about your differently abled child do write me at ajitas02@gmail.com
Keep sharing!
I agree. Because, you talked about Anshul, you were able to do your best for him.
ReplyDeleteSharing has always helped me
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