Take a moment to read this blog posting “Three Strikes… and He’s Out?”

Wow – this is reality for many of our family and community members – this is why we become isolated.  Inclusion for us is a fantasy.

A recent comment made to me by a King County District Court Judge regarding taking my son to a self-advocacy meeting and a Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities meeting ;

“I think you took your son  there just to bother him”   (referring to the Autistic Activist who told me that guardians are all self-serving and every person is able to speak for themselves)

Thank you, Judge, for your understanding –  I do not take my son places to bother others – is that how you view INCLUSION, Judge?

Yes, I’m sure my son’s behavior does bother people and he is not able to be appropriate in many settings of inclusion.  Waiting in line, being patient, being quiet, sitting down, keeping hands to himself, are all very difficult things which take constant support to try to have a resemblance of “appropriate” behaviour.   It takes alot of energy to provide this constant support – one of the reasons that caregivers become isolated when ensuring people with disabilities are included.  We don’t want to bother others and it’s not fun for us to try to manage our son’s behaviors in places that are difficult for him – it’s always a balancing act with a needed escape route.

So, if you see us out in our community – we are not there to bother  or frighten you – we are there to try to give our son some meaningful experiences in life.