THE ENTREPRENEUR “ AH-HA !”
By Jennifer Forsyth
Since the beginning of time , individuals have started businesses mostly due to one thing : they saw a need and exploited the opportunity .
Sometimes , to some entrepreneurs , the “ need ” hits a little closer to home . An event happens in their lives , and it becomes life-changing , all encompassing . They realize their personal experience actually is something many others struggle with , and they find a way to use their trials to make the world a better place . My own experience is one of these . I can still remember the feeling of my heart sinking through my stomach and legs and falling through the floor at a school meeting to discuss the in-school care of my middle child Sean . Sure he had been having behavioral issues in his kindergarten class , but never did I imagine — as his teacher and principal were describing their issues with Sean to his new therapists I had hired to work at home and the school — that one of those therapists would suddenly stop the meeting and demand to know why he had never been evaluated for Asperger ’ s Syndrome . Asperger ’ s was autism . There was no cure for autism . “ Oh my God , my baby !” After my heart fell out of my body , the tears weren ’ t far behind . Everyone at the table tried to assure me everything would be okay , but as the parent of a child with autism , I soon discovered it ’ s not okay for a lot of families , and it doesn ’ t have to be that way .
Yes , there are bad times for an autism family . We have endured hours of meltdowns . There have been times we have missed events or have had to make very public exits due to sensory overload or other issues . We went through a years-long phase where Sean wouldn ’ t eat anything that had the color brown . An amputation would be easier than trying to take his laptop or his iPad away from him ( you can never underestimate how strong these kids are , especially in a meltdown !). There is also the cruelty that autism families face from others , which , from personal experience , is much worse than anything Sean has ever thrown at us — bullying , loss of friends , parents who don ’ t allow their children to play with kids because they are “ different .” Adults who treat him poorly instead of simply asking parents for assistance . Schools not following individual education plans ( IEPs ) and in some cases , not offering help at all , but yet being the first to complain if an autistic child has an outburst .
However the worst enemies an autistic family has can be the media and the internet . Either an autism family reads and believes all of the nonscientific and frightening propaganda about what causes autism , promises for cures ( there is no cure ,) or they are bombarded with awful stories of no hope and doom for their child .
That needs to change .
“ Help is out there , and happiness exists .”
Even the lowest-functioning autistic has the promise of contributing something to our community . Help is out there , and happiness exists .
As I build the Happier Autism Family , I ’ m reminded of my battles . I ’ m reminded of those three-hour meltdowns Sean used to have . How one school district would not offer us an IEP , so we gave up our home and moved our family to a new district . How we once lost insurance through a technicality and discovered the amazing world of autism service dogs . The people we have met and the resources we have gained . The Happier Autism Family will be ready to consult and counsel families , businesses , and schools , and point all of the above to resources and help to provide that need to make everyone ’ s life on the spectrum peaceful and happier !
Jen is a regular contributing blogger for The Global Sisterhood , and she is currently writing a book titled The Happier Autism Family .
SUMMER 2016 INSPIRING LIVES 19