Avonte

I'm sure many of you have heard the news by now of 14 year old Avonte Oquendo.  Avonte was a young boy with autism who went missing from his Queens, NYC school in early October and a few days ago, his body was discovered in a Queens river.

Y'all know autism has a special place in my heart so news stories like these always make my heart skip a beat.  Some children with autism are wanderers, have little to no fear and do not have the ability to make judgement calls or read social cues.  All of these things combined with some children not having the ability to communicate has the potential for disastrous consequences such as the one that befell Avonte.  But, maybe something could have been done?

When I was teaching students with autism, our local police department partnered with children and families to provide GPS trackers to students.  With Project Lifesaver, children wore GPS trackers on their wrists that looked like bracelets.  In the event that a child went missing, police would be able to find them quickly.  I don't know if a GPS tracker would have saved Avonte's life, but it's certainly time to bring the discussion to the forefront.

Autism Awareness Month

I *heart* Autism!

April is Autism Awareness Month, and as a former teacher of students with autism, I HAD to commemorate this month.  For those that don't know, autism is a neurological disorder that effects a person's ability to communicate, take care of themselves, relate to other people, and their brain functioning.  Autism was made popular in the movie Rainman, but trust me, not all people with autism are savants.

As a special ed teacher, autism was my favorite disability.  I know that sounds weird, but kid's with autism are amazing.  They live in their own world but every now and then, they'll let you in.  Once you're in, you are in for a hilariously challenging ride but it's all worth it when you see them learn a new skill or make a new connection.  Although I don't teach anymore, I think about my students all the time.  Kids with autism will always hold a special place in my heart.

This month, I want to honor every mother, father, sister, brother, and teacher of children with autism.  I know personally that they are exceptional people with gigantic hearts and thick skin.  If no one else tells you today or any day, I think you are AMAZING!