It’s different.

Autism is completely different.

People of the world today are blind to espy not only the spark of illness present in a

child but also the ongoing struggle of their family. People don’t comprehend that the

involuntary upsurge of violence or sudden shrieks are natural ways for them to

arrantly express themselves. People don’t know that trains of reticent thoughts steam

through the heads of the parents whose child continues to be judged fiendishly

through the eyes of the world.

I’ll tell you this once

demonic

is not a word derived to fretfully describe an autistic child.

This disorder is a paramount thread which should be dealt with a forbearing mind

and a velvet heart. If you ask me, the basis behind it should be taught to pupils in

schools, to educate and enlighten the veracious guide and norm towards helping

those with the disorder to live a better life, and also so we won’t have every Tom,

Dick and Harry categorising these innocent hearts as demonic.

Violence is something these children can’t control. It’s a reflex, an unintentional form

of physical defence and every child has their own way of purely expressing it. Some

may hit their head persistently, some may bite, some may kick and some may

scream. We just need not to fight hard, but to fight smart.

I discovered news posts which stated in their own words how such a nightmare of a

child screamed persistently through an eight-hour flight as his mother watched

helplessly. When a child, presumably autistic or not, prolongs intense screams and

rampages through the length of a plane, it is most probably because they are in pain

due to the high pressures amidst the atmosphere. So please, please, please, don’t

merely sit your ass flat and record the scene like a mooncalf, instead stand up like the

human you are and comfort the child. Approach the parents and question if there is

absolutely anything you could do to help, carry the child and hug him to a sangfroid

muse or encourage a section of the plane or family to render a song to hopefully

distract him from his pain. Don’t let your guard down and be brave.

You must never be fearful about what you are doing when what’s being done is right.

– Rosa Parks

Today,

in my abode, my autistic brother, like many, had an outburst which lasted for at least

forty-five minutes. Starting from within our stationed car outside the house, to the

porch and ending in our lounge room. A woman’s crowning glory, the rooted hair of

my mother was scattered in strands around the floor after his grip had brought tears

to trickle boundlessly against the ground, hitting its surface like bullets. As she took a

moment to digest her tenderness, our darling dog approached her and wailed to see

its mother disturbed, springing to caress her rose cheeks as she pulled away and laid

on her feet like a lioness reigning its true glory. I guess we call her Angel for a reason.

The twins, my father and I, had to hold him down with all the vigour concealed under

our rind until he came to a state weary enough for us to assuringly let him go. The

scars and damages which he leaves behind will always mould us into ripened seeds,

ready to evolve and nurture ourself and him for new beginnings and a better start.

My family strongly believes boutades which come and go should only be considered

under a peachy keen viewpoint, where no space of giving up is available. In our

house, we do autism, we do meltdowns and avoidance, we do tears and frustration,

we worry and stress, we preserve and pray, because in our house, we don’t go down

without a fight.

These special children are exposed beyond their will to experience life as it comes.

Innocent at the seams where their heart woven in gold will prove no grace better

than any other. They need love and a humane sense for companionship. We need to

look out for each other, tell me is that not what we are here for? We can heal the

hearts torn and minds disabled when kindness is always chosen first.

Autism should be championed by everyone.

Autistic children are raw in nature.

After all, they too are human. – February 20, 2018.

* Shridevi Jeevan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.