Having a disability, mine happens to be cerebral palsy means I am part of a unique community. The only requirement for membership in this unique community is that you have some type of disability. Some people I know have told me that they do not see their condition as a disability and I am okay with that pronouncement. Others like me acknowledge their disability and recognize the unique gifts we bring to the world because of it. As such I often try to build bridges of understanding and acceptance so that people can cross over and we can talk with each other and find common ground.
In my 20’s I became involved in young life ministry cofounding a club called partners which worked with high school and middle school students with disabilities of all types. That meant that I needed to understand all types of disabilities. I learned quickly that the best teachers are those who have the disability themselves or from their family members. In addition, I learned there is a great desire on their part to share what they know and have learned. We just simply need to ask them and show a desire to learn.
Today with the Internet and with platforms such as YouTube there is a wealth of information available. You simply need time and perhaps a notebook. One of my desires for this website is to expose people to resources that are available.
For the past few months, I have taken a personal interest in the condition called autism and a desire to learn as much as I can about autism. And I would love to share a YouTube channel that I have found most helpful. And I will post a link on my page called “sites to visit” which will link you directly to the “Fathering Autism” channel.
The reason I find it so informative is they speak so honestly about their struggles as well as their joys of raising their daughter Abigail. Abigail herself paints a wonderful picture of what it is like to have autism and I think you will leave with a very different picture of autism and even if you don’t have a family member with autism, I think you will see people who have autism in a different light and that in itself is worth your time alone.
Thanks for reading this! Hope it helps you or someone you know.
Francis
Thoughts? E-mail: francisearly@francisearly.com
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