Navigating Autism Spectrum Disorder: Our Personal Journey and Theory of Kindness
When our son Teddy turned three years old, his daycare expressed concern about his behaviors, and we received a call informing us that they were not equipped to fully support him. It was a difficult moment for us, and I found myself crying uncontrollably. However, the daycare owner was compassionate and invited us for a heart-to-heart talk, which left a profound impact on us. She suggested that Teddy might have sensory processing disorder or autism, and encouraged us to seek a professional diagnosis.
To be honest, my husband and I knew very little about autism and had never heard of sensory processing disorder. While he had a hunch that something was different about Teddy, I was in denial despite early signs. We were also facing financial struggles while running a new company together, with consulting jobs on the side. We thought we just had a "difficult child," but the official diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder two days after Christmas turned our world upside down. We felt isolated and went through the grieving process without even realizing it, mourning the loss of our perception of a "normal family" and Teddy's expected milestones.
As first-time parents, our journey would look drastically different from that of our family and friends. We have been grieving and surviving the day-to-day challenges since then, and have only just begun our healing process. At Theory of Kindness, we aim to help families of autistic children navigate the world with kindness, empathy, acceptance, and education, even though we are not autism experts. We want to focus on the positives, help families celebrate small victories, and feel less alone.
If you are new to this journey, we recommend reading “Uniquely Human” by Dr. Barry Prizant and Tom Fields-Meyer and listening to Dr. Barry Prizant and Dave Finch’s podcast which can provide positive support. If you are already years into your autism journey and haven't read this book yet, we highly recommend it for all family members.
Thank you for joining us at Theory of Kindness. We look forward to sharing our experiences and growing a supportive community centered around kindness, empathy, acceptance, and education.
What to read next: “Uniquely Human” by Dr. Barry Prizant and Tom Fields-Meyer
What to listen to first: Uniquely Human, The Podcast, Episode 1: A Fresh and Uniquely Human Perspective on Autism
