My husband went to vote today.
He took Brantley, our nine year old son with severe autism, with him.
When they got home, Brantley bounced in the house proudly wearing what I thought was the usual “I Voted” sticker. I couldn’t help but smile and tease him, “I wonder who you voted for?”
But then I noticed it. The sticker wasn’t an “I Voted” sticker—but said “Future Ohio Voter.”
It stopped me dead in my tracks. And it stung.
There are protections and supports for voters with disabilities, but the reality hit me hard: Brantley will likely never vote.
The sticker was one more reminder of a world that may not fully include those with severe autism, despite the gestures that try to suggest otherwise.
I stood there for a moment, trying to swallow the lump in my throat.
It was just a sticker, but it carried so much weight. It reminded me of the future I try not to dwell on—the milestones Brantley may never reach.
But, I did what I always do, I pushed down the emotions that came with that sticker. I reminded myself that Brantley is perfect just as he is. His joy, his presence—they mean more than any vote ever could.
And yet, if I’m being honest, the sting still lingers. Knowing that in a world built around inclusion, some doors may still remain closed to him. Voting may be just one more experience, that Brantley never gets to have. #autismfamily #autismlife #autismparents #specialneedsmom
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