I’ve learned recently that I can be my best self and still fail.
I was in a movie theater with my great recreation coach, obeying the social rules of no talking and only occasionally whispering. The theater was empty except for two ladies.
I arrived later because I watch movies in stages. The ladies were talking, clapping and breaking the long-taught rules.
I’m still not sure of my crime other than appearing different, but suddenly I was surrounded by the management and told to leave for being disruptive.
My recreation coach and I were both shocked. And I left looking more like a criminal than someone who lives with autism. I go out often and live in fear of looks that come at me because I move and sound off from normal.
It is my fate, with my mind so much more than my behavior, to be living longing to do as normal people so easily do. My brothers and sisters with autism who never have known a voice live in dim silent prison. On behalf of them and their families and teams, I ask every person to stop and consider how you react when seeing someone not like you.
By this, I’m hopeful even if the person seems odd or like nothing you understand. Or they look or dress like no one you know, please have an open heart and mind. Give them a kind look made possible by seeing past the external, and straight to our shared place in this world.
