I am the mother of a 24-year-old son with autism spectrum disorder.

My son is amazing! And not in the sense of heB次元官网网址檚 amazing because heB次元官网网址檚 done so many of the things that B次元官网网址渢ypicalB次元官网网址� people doB次元官网网址�

The language of normalization pushes me down. It diminishes. What is so great about normal or average, or above average for that matter? You can still be a jerk if youB次元官网网址檙e above average.

But I know that average or above average opens more doors. It gives you a place in the centre, away from the borderlands. Gloria Anzaldua describes those who dwell in the borderlands as individuals who do not fit into any single category B次元官网网址� they B次元官网网址渃ross over, pass over, or go through the confines of the B次元官网网址榥ormal.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Individuals such as my son are living in the borderlands, sometimes encountering moments of belonging.

Autism Awareness Month is upon us, but I would challenge that we need more than awareness, we need acceptance. When I meet families of newly diagnosed children in my B次元官网网址渄ay jobB次元官网网址� and they find out IB次元官网网址檓 a parent too, they ask: B次元官网网址渉ow is your son now?B次元官网网址�

He is amazing! I tell them that he graduated with a provincial Dogwood certificate, indicating he had met the same learning outcomes as his peers.

He is amazing! He has completed a certificate in Digital Communications at Camosun College, one course at a time, so that a one-year certificate became a five-year journey.

He is amazing! He maintains his own apartment space. Why do I tell these stories of normalized standards? Why canB次元官网网址檛 he simply be amazing, hands flapping, vocal stimmingB次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 Autism Acceptance month B次元官网网址� letB次元官网网址檚 endeavour to celebrate all of the aspects of our kids.

Dr. Elizabeth Sparling, DSocSci, BCBA

Mom of an amazing son

To read more about National Autism Awareness Month, go to goldstreamgazette.com/tag/autism-awareness-month.

Do you have a story tip? Email: vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.

Follow us on and and like us on