April is National Autism Awareness Month

Dedicated to my son Joshua with Aspergers Syndrome.

Written by Pam Gifford, Assistant to Kimberly Gribbin and mother of 2 with Asperger Syndrome

Joshua, Jonathan, Amy and all persons affected by Autism---we LOVE you exactly as God made you------We are blessed to have you in our lives!

So you think your child is Autistic!

So you think your child is Autistic!

Ok, Lets be realistic.

You say, he explodes over little things,

Gets lost in thought and hums and sings.

You say he gets distracted, even from a simple chore

The future is looking like a closed door.

You say, sometimes he won't leave his room

He shuts down and goes into a cocoon

New Issues raise their heads every day

Other children don't want to play

He is hyper, a picky eater and misses every joke

Pulls at his hair and at his skin he will poke

Collects lint and by load noises he is affected

As a parent you feel at fault, overwhelmed and rejected

New friends are few and far between

Small improvements are hard to be seen

So you think your child is Autistic

So, Lets be realistic.

If this child sounds like yours

Acceptance can open many doors.

I recognize too well these signs

It can drive parents out of their minds.

Always love him, that comes first

Even when your heart could burst

Experts in Autism, parents must become

Little geniuses, these children are not dumb

Ignorance and bullying cannot be accepted

All children must be respected

Parents Groups can lend a sympathetic ear

They understand what you hold dear

To ask why?, It is a waste of time

No answer could satisfy your mind.

Education is the key to success

for this gift you were blessed

You need to learn about their problems

Training and knowledge can help you solve them.

I hope comfort in these words you find

And it helps relieve your troubled mind.

By Pamela M. Gifford Mother of two Asperger Children