April is National Autism Acceptance Month; it is a month that we recognize the beauty and humanity of those in our community that have both unique gifts and unique challenges. It is also National Poetry Month, so it feels like the right time to share a poem that I wrote a few years ago in the wake of the deaths of Elijah McClain and George Floyd. Elijah was a beautiful soft-spoken young man with special gifts that were not recognized during his encounter with law enforcement.
As a mom of boys, each with unique needs, I cannot lose sight of the fact that many in our society treat black boys as grown men, robbing them of the innocence of childhood and the grace to learn as they grow, and even make a few mistakes that are normal to childhood. As a society, we have to make a concerted effort to make room for children with special needs who may not react the way that is expected in the classroom, when dealing with law enforcement, or just going about daily life. We need to create space for them through education, awareness, modified behavior, and advocacy, when needed. It should become second-nature to think — does this child have anxiety, is she on the spectrum, are there sensory issues, processing challenges — just to name a few human challenges. We should educate ourselves, assess the situation and make every effort to do no harm. Our goal should be to help, to be gentle, to deescalate, and to bring patience, grace and kindness to the situation.
As we embrace differences, it is good to make room on our mental couch for a diversity of experiences. Below are a few that are on my reading list.
Autism Society
Making Progress Towards The Dream: Autism In The Black Community
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
Spotlight On: Racial and Ethnic Differences in Children Identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
6 Ways to Protect your Child with Autism to Deal with the Police
Autism in Black Podcast
What we know about the killing of Elijah McClain
The Color of Autism
Janet is a mom of three boys and the author of several books, including, the Heart and Soul of Black Women, Island Mindfulness and Growing into Greatness with God. Available on Amazon.
