Announcing The Autism Valentines Day Project
With that in mind, I thought I'd reach out to parents, teachers, lovers, friends, grandparents, and - of course - teens and adults on the spectrum to ask as many people as possible to send Valentines to their autistic loved ones - both in person and to this site, www.autism.about.com.
Included in each Valentine should be a one or two line appreciation of the person you love - along with a heartfelt expression of what it is you love best about them. Feel free to include a poem, photo, or story.
On February 14th, I'll publish a blog post with all the Valentines included. What's more, I'll create a link to a document that includes all of the Valentines - so that they can be found and shared easily by anyone, anywhere.
The About.com Valentines Day Project is not a political undertaking. It's simply an opportunity to stop for a moment to appreciate the person or people with autism who are part of your life. I look forward to reading and sharing your notes!
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Comments
Do Normal People Scare You?
Reaching out…
As a mother, filmmaker, and advocate in autism for 20 years, I find I am weary and recently, very alone.
Everyday, I deal with autism with my son Taylor, but everyday I get calls and emails for advice because of our long-standing role in advocacy and film.
My son, Taylor, now 20, and i are in the “real world” of autism as an adult with the disorder, but our lives are lived in the press.
Together, Taylor and I created a film, “Normal People Scare Me.” The film was produced by Joey Travolta and has received world-wide acclaim.
Recent circumstances have the world press inundating me for the “scoop” on the Travolta tragedy. But the truth is, there’s not much to say other than I’ve known Joey for many years, as he helped my son to make a film about autism.
As a result, he has dedicated his life to helping others with disabilities in his business “Inclusion Films” to support those with disabilities in the art of film and acting.
Joey is a gentle person, dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities, in part, because he was once a special education teacher, but then created new opportunities for others due to his meeting Taylor which undoubtedly influenced his career decisions.
With all the recent fodder and speculation about autism and Jett’s passing, I know first-hand that some of the rumors that he and his brother fought over Jett’s condition are false. They are a loving family - now stronger than ever.
This all makes me think about Superman and Lois Lane, when Superman says “Don’t worry, I’ve got you!”. Lois Lane replies “Yes, but who’s got you???????”
I am an advocate, a passionate traveler in the world of autism. But I sometimes wonder: “Who’s got me?” Do you wonder this in your own life?
Today my son enrolled in college. A long road to get there, after making his film, and standing on stages around the world, yet we still find that autism is real in our everyday lives.
We bleed “red” at home, and autism never goes away. College is a dream that is hard to achieve for those with differences.
I find that we can only enhance the opportunities for those who are diagnosed with autism so that they may achieve more and move forward in their lives and inclusion in society, but life is never easy.
And yet still, for you and me, mother’s and father’s of those with autism, I ask: “Who’s got you?”
Keri Bowers,
www.normalfilms.com
Lisa,
We absolutely LOVE the idea of the Autism Valentine Project!!! Frankly, V-day has sometimes been a day of disappointment for our ten year old son, Sam. So the past few years, rather than making a lot of small valentines, I have encouraged him to pick a few of his best friends to make special ones for, though they do not always reciprocate the friendship. With autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, he sometimes goes overbaord on the gifts for the girls in his circle of friends, and their response does not always match up to his expectations. A hard life lesson for Sam to learn, but a necessary one.
This year Sam is in a new school system, with many more friends and acquaintances than he could count, but, sadly he has not learned all the faces and names that go with the voices he hears. If his classmates and school mates would initiate the e-valentine process, Sam could reply to all of them much more quickly. And as much love as Sam has to give others, Valentines day would be a perfect opportunity for those who know him to express their sentiments.
Please tell me how to go about sending the e-val to this site. Also, can it include photos or art or other graphics, or just text?
We are so excited, and I personally cannot WAIT to send this suggestion on to Sam’s school and other friends who have online access.
Many happy returns!
tamara
Keri,
Just yesterday before reading your blog, my world was being more difficult than seemed bearable. I called out in prayer and asked, When I am fighting for my kids’ needs, WHO is standing up for me?
The answer may seen strange, but I am the one who stands up for me, with the strength and grace and patience that comes from my God. And then next are close friends and family. The church, the community, and others. Reading online news and information is an encouragement. Knowing everyday that my son is still alive and making progess keeps me going.
I share your sentiments, on all counts. My heart goes out to the Travolta family and all hwo were close to Jett. Losing my ten year old Sam is something my brain and heart cannot process.
I bet Sam would love to see your son’s film. Our family would have to agree that normal people seem a strange disappointment in a world that needs super-people to keep our future safe.
Whichever dream my son pursues, college or acting, research scientist or marine biologist, he will always not seem normal to those who consider themselves normal. But he can and will succeed.
Thank you for helping others. One day I hope to do the same.
tamara
i knew i had someone very unique when after being intimate for the first time, i looked over and he was making shadow puppets on the wall from the afternoon sun through the opened summer window…..i think that is the moment i knew i would love him forever….zoe
When JP was kissed before he would wipe it off and move away.Now we play a game where he would kiss me on the cheek and I would kiss him back and we would both proceed to “rub it in,rub it in” and it is one of the things he likes to do now.He also finally says I Love You.It warms the heart.
My son is in mainstream high school, trying to get by, trying to fit in. I see him reach out, to the best of his ability, to people around him. I watch him call some people, ‘friend’, reaching out to them, but to not always find it reciprocated.
It seems much like a penguin among ducks - trying to figure out people around him, trying to figure out what he’s ’supposed’ to feel, and all the rest.
He’s got a world of passion for life, he’s got a brilliant mind, and he has siblings who have a hard time with finding normalcy in their lives, nearly as much as he has.
But my kids are loved dearly, nonetheless.
I don’t write his name, because, long ago, I made him a promise that, as I write, I would not write my kids’ names, nor attach the names to my own, online - that I’d allow them a sense of privacy.
They’re loved. My son with ADHD, and my son with autism. Their sister, their kid brothers.