Autism walk 11-13-2010

I struggle to define autism on a daily basis.  High functioning, low functioning, Aspergers... the list goes on.  Their is no biological test to diagnose autism, it is all observational.  One thing I do know, however, it is real.

The disorder is a daily battle, not just for the kids, but for the parents.  I think the analogy of playdough suits autism well.  When you open a can of playdough it is nice and malleable, you can make anything out of it you want.  However, the older it gets it starts to dry out and doesn't mold as well.  The same thing can be said of autistic kids, the longer you wait to receive behavioral therapy, the tougher it is going to be to integrate them into society.

At the autism walk you really got a sense that people are in this battle together. I loved seeing the team shirts (we of course were team Joshua) and the cheering because this disorder requires more than just the parents, it requires the community.