Morgan Autism Center

Today is World Autism Day. We want to make sure to celebrate all the individuals with autism and be aware of their dreams, aspirations and of course, their needs. Every person with autism has a family that has also been effected. It is critical to recognize that families as well need to feel acceptance and a sense of belonging. Being able to participate in family/community activities is so important to all those dealing with autism. Isolation is very common, so we all need to open our arms and minds to welcome these people into our lives.

So often, I think of the many pioneers in the world of autism. Parents who years ago were told that they were responsible for their child's disability. The condemnation, fear, and rejection they were forced to endure makes one wonder how did they manage to forge ahead and get as far as they have? I so admire some of our older parents whose lives were tremendously effected by the erroneous claims of Bruno Bettleheim and his "Refrigerator Mothers." Leo Kanner's original description outlined so many things that were later disregarded in favor of Bettelheim's theory, and in the process, we lost 50 years of potential progress. I salute those parents who knew in their hearts that they were not the cause of their child's disability and plowed ahead to make the world as good as it could be for their children. We've come a long way, but still have a long way to go!