We always try to include Brantley in as many activities as possible. Taking him along is not only beneficial to him but also spreads Autism Awareness wherever we go.
This past weekend I made the difficult decision to not take Brantley to one of the parties on our calendar. He was struggling with an ear infection and stood zero chance of tolerating the ear plug needed for swimming. I couldn’t bear the thought of him feeling left out while others splashed in the pool.
When Brantley heard me tell my mother-in-law that he wasn’t going to the party, the biggest frown crested his square face and large crocodile tears streamed from his blue eyes.
He listened.
He understood.
He knew where the party was and he knew that he would miss out on swimming at one of his favorite pools, with families who are always inclusive of our wild boy. The thought broke his heart.
It broke mine too, so much so that I changed my decision to not take him in lieu of his happiness. After all, he never submerges his head in the water, so his ear would get little water as he splashed his way around the shallow end.
The squeals that erupted when I helped him into his swim trunks, were his way of showing gratitude. Brantley didn’t need words to communicate his excitement, just like he didn’t need to speak in order to understand my plans.
Brantley's story serves as a poignant reminder to always presume competence. There is a common assumption that nonverbal individuals struggle to comprehend any receptive communication, but the truth is often
that someones ability to communicate verbally is not linked to their ability to hear or understand. #autismfamily #autismlife #disability #autismparents #nonverbalautism
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