It's All in How You React

I don't know that I would have handled this situation anywhere near as well as this mother did! When she found these stickers on her car commenting on her "Autistic Child" informational placard, she could have responded in anger. Or by crumpling in a heap.

These placards provide important information for first responders in case of an accident, especially for those with limited experience dealing with kids on the autism spectrum. Clearly, whoever placed these stickers (spelling issues aside), doesn't know or care what challenges autism can pose. I know there are people who don't believe that autism is a real thing (I know some of them), and I also know it can sometimes be hard to distinguish between a child on the autism spectrum and a child with neurotypical discipline problems, but anonymously putting mean-spirited comments on someone's car is cowardly and juvenile. (I mean really, whatever happened to people dropping off a pie at the new neighbor's house?)

Believe me, nobody chooses an autism spectrum disorder for her child! I could go on and on, but for now suffice it to say, take the worry of the parent of a neurotypical child and multiply it by a bazillion. The parent of a child on the autism spectrum, especially a nonverbal one and/or one prone to wandering, is always on alert. Not to mention having to deal with this kind of "welcome."

Back to the mom in the story. She went around her new neighborhood trying to find out who did this, to help explain the reality of what autism means for her and her child. Not surprisingly, no one confessed to placing the stickers, but she still took the opportunity to educate her new neighbors on autism. Good for her!

We all face situations like this, actions based in ignorance or misunderstanding. Counting to 10 (or 100) and reacting with patience and poise is the resilient response. Maybe you make a new friend or customer, or maybe you just increase understanding. Either way, you've shown you're a class act.

for more, here's the news story and video