Father Time Part 2

Good morning!

I hope everyone is ready for a great weekend.  Sometimes I get multiple subjects swirling around in my head that I want to talk about.  I will have 2 posts for today since something very important has come up.  But first....I would like to continue my series on how time effects so many parts of the special needs family.  Last time we discussed how time impacts the caregiver.  Today, I want to point out something more positive....how time has effected us as a society.

I grew up in the 70's.  While this was not exactly "The Dark Ages" for most things, it seems like it was for special needs children and families.  Probably the only thing I had ever heard about was the Special Olympics.  That seemed like the one thing that was specially designed for them.  I remember in my elementary school that there was one room way back in the rear of the school where the "retarded" kids went.  We didn't intermingle with them, and quite frankly, we giggled and made jokes about the kids back there.  I think we lived in a society where things that were different were shied away from.  Things we didn't understand were just considered weird and scary.  If we did see people out in public who we considered to be different, it was acceptable to stare, or even worse, call negative attention to them.  

Times in this regard has changed for the better.  There are now regular stories on the news, or sports programs showing special needs athletes making the final basket of a basketball game.  There are tons of websites, blogs, books, and Facebook pages dedicated to families living life on the spectrum.  There are specific goals for special needs children related to integrating them into peer groups and typical society activities.  There are people, like me, making it a personal mission to educate as many people as possible, and to help those directly and indirectly effected.  

A few years ago, Tyler graduated from high school at the age of 21.  He had legally fulfilled his obligation to officially graduate.  We chose to have him graduate in front of his typical school.  I gave a short speech and then his teacher presented him with his diploma.  It was an extraordinary moment.  Then....it happened.  All of the kids and faculty gave Tyler a standing ovation.  I think of that moment even today and my hair stands up on end.  There will never be an honor so great as standing on stage with Tyler while people celebrated him for his effort and courage.  We had gone from having kids like him in the back of the school, to standing and cheering their success.  THAT is progress.

Let's be honest, there is so much work to do.  Awareness is only one part of the battle.  We have to have better funding, programs, and facilities.  But let's also not underestimate the power of increased awareness either.  With public awareness the doors open to the other things that we need.  Like any other movement, it takes people simply moving it forward.  If you move it forward one step, and the next person moves it one more, and the next person moves it one more, goals eventually come into view.

While time works against us in so many ways, I'm glad to see compassion and tolerance have become more prevalent as time goes on.  We now see a greater sense of pride when our special children succeed.  Perhaps, if we continue to educate and raise awareness, someday it will turn into so many other things we need.

Be well and God bless.    Tom