Being Thankful for Autism

Mikal Britt, Behaviorist for 10+ years

This Thanksgiving season, I want to focus on ways we can be thankful for autism, which although a challenging condition at times, is also a wonderful and fascinating part of our world. So I am thankful that autism exists.

I am thankful that we have different people in this world; that we are not all the same. I am thankful for brains that operate differently, in interesting and puzzling ways. I am thankful for the mystery. I am thankful for being able the opportunity to help figure it out and understand it. 

I am thankful for the chance to consider alternative ways of interpreting reality. I am thankful for all the new art and ideas and technology that has resulted from autistic brains. I am thankful for the honesty that results from autism. I am thankful for the unabashed raw purity of spirit that can spring out of autism. I am thankful for the love autism generates, for the love that is required to handle it.

I am thankful for the funny things my clients say, sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. I am thankful that I can see the beauty in autism. I am thankful that I get to know families that are not my own, that I get to see other perspectives. I am thankful that I get to be of service to other people. I am thankful for the communities that autism creates.

I am thankful for the weird stares I sometimes get if I am with a client who is having a meltdown in public. Why? Because it is an opportunity to teach people about autism who have no idea what it is.

I am thankful to the whole world for learning, or at least trying, to accept autism. Because it is not going away. It is here to stay. It is a part of our world and we need it.