The Autistic....ALIENS???

Now, don't get your curlers in a bunch. This is only a theory that someone presented to me a while ago. This individual's thoughts are out there, but for those who believe in the supernatural....





The person's possible theory: What if Autism is a higher level of thinking and behavior that we don't understand. Almost as if they are intelligent life instead of being beneath us as many believe.



This isn't my own theory, however, and to think that my ex-husband, his father, is some sort of extra-terrestrial.....come to think of it, that would explain a lot of things about him -- His toes, habits... Anyway, I digress. MY SON IS NOT AN ALIEN! He's just different and different does not a subhuman make. With that said, exactly what is he?





In my years of living with him, I've found that he is beyond the Autism Spectrum. Professionals in the field can easily look at him and see that Autism is his diagnosis, but that's where it ends. He is different is every other way beyond that.





TheAutism Society of Americangives parents symptoms of Autism. Some of them are right on, yet others are completely opposite of my son:





*Lack of or delay in spoken language(He has Apraxia of Speech so this is right on. Although, he tries with all that is within him to speak. He jabbers in sentences.....OH, if I could always understand what he is trying to say to me!)



*Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms(He rocks back and forth on occasion)





*Little or no eye contact(BIG buzzer here! He looks into one's eyes -- too deep at times if you ask me.)



*Lack of interest in peer relationships(If you've been reading the last few posts you will disagree and find this symptom laughable for him)



*Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play(I'm tired of hearing my teenage son yell at him, "Stop throwing that plastic man up! It's hitting the ceiling!" It's a super-hero toy that's obviously getting it's butt kicked by Woody from Toy Story. Go Woody!)





*Persistent fixation on parts of objects(With this I will agree. He's constantly picking at his fingers to rid them of those small pieces of skin that form around the cuticles when you've played too much. You know the ones I'm talking about.)



Because of the issues I've been having with him and his behavior in his new school (Check the previous post, "Don't Ring My Bell", for the full story), I've approached the school district's special education specialist about moving him back to an all Autism class. Their reservations were this: He's different from many kids they deal with on a daily basis. He'svery much in our world.I agree.



My mother contributes his "awareness" to how I treated him as a baby. You don't know how I am...yet. So, I'll clue you in. I'm a toucher. I must lay my hands on everything. It has gotten me in trouble with many men who took my touch as personal...sorry, guys! I rubbed him and all my babies. I had a constant contact with them and still do. I rub his hair when I pass and touch his shoulder with a soft brush -- it's my way of acknowledging his existence and showing love.



Does this touching keep him in "our world?" I'm not sure, but I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. For as long as he is aware of things around him, he's fought a portion of the Autism battle.