Here’s another beautifully written piece, this one by author Ralph James Savarese, whose adopted son DJ has autism. The writer introduces us to an intelligent, empathic and politically conscious young man who chafes at prejudice against him. Savarese argues for greater inclusion of people with autism in society and greater respect for them personally, coupled with more research to relieve their symptoms.

I’m convinced that we can move forward with a vigorous research agenda while respecting the person with autism. But we have to make room for this difference in the world. We have to reduce the stigma attached to it. At the same time, we have to provide more support for parents who frequently find themselves at the ends of their ropes.

A few years ago, DJ was asked to compose a paragraph about the American flag for an Elks Club writing contest. His paragraph went like this: “The great United States of America is breathtakingly not free. Equality is not sacred because not everyone has access to it. Free people treat my people, very smart people who type to communicate, as mindless…. The creators of everyone’s very important Declaration of Independence wasted their breath.”

Here was a boy demanding his place in America. I took note of the signature metaphor and pictured democracy itself in respiratory distress.

Savarese is the author of Reasonable People: A Memoir of Autism and Adoption. (Other Press 2007).

From the Huffington Post.

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 18th, 2007 at 7:19 pm and is filed under autism, families, first-person, personal stories, public attitudes, research news, stigma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.