Seeing Possibilities Through Others

Last spring, I was strolling through a local bookstore with my best friend. As we enjoyed the comforting vibe of the space, we found ourselves perusing the same shelves multiple times, finding something new each time.

As we made one of our final rounds, a small paperback book caught my eye. The title was Autism Causes Vaccines by Joe Biel. The creative title immediately caught my attention and piqued my interest. As I skimmed through the book, I was instantly hooked! It highlighted the impact autistic people have had throughout history, including people with formal autism diagnoses and others the author believed may have been autistic based on their lives and work.

I purchased the book, eager to dive into the stories.

When my friend and I returned to my house, Dawson spotted the book in my shopping bag. He read the title and instantly wanted to know more about it. I shared that it was about autistic people and the amazing gifts they have given our world through their research, discoveries, and inventions. I promised him that as I read the book, I would tell him about the chapters I thought he would enjoy. He was just as excited about this book as I was!

Each night, I dove into a couple of chapters, each taking me into the life of another person, with their triumphs and setbacks, challenges, and perseverance. The next day, I would share what I had learned with Dawson. Sometimes, he would tell me he wasn't interested. Other times, I made the decision not to share a particular chapter, like the one about a person who was pivotal in the study of human sexuality.

Though he was enthralled by many of the chapters, the one about Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon, was particularly inspiring to him.

My hope in sharing these stories was to show Dawson examples of how thinking differently has bettered our world and enhanced so many things for the people around us. I wanted him to see that thinking in a different way is something to be celebrated. And I believe that is what he took away from our discussions, too.

Dawson loved learning about other autistic people and their accomplishments, feeling an unspoken connection with them.

And I had the amazing opportunity to witness this again just this past week when I attended a conference for my job.

My friend and colleague had mentioned that I would absolutely love the keynote speaker on the second day, Ben Hartranft of Benergy 1. Ben has an inspiring story and has created so many opportunities to share it with the world. I eagerly listened to a podcast he had recorded and counted down the days until I would get to hear him speak.

On the first day of the conference, I was sitting in the commons area, collaborating with another friend and colleague. In the middle of our conversation, I heard an excited, friendly voice nearby. It was Ben, walking around, introducing himself to people, and enthusiastically sharing that he would be the next day's keynote speaker.

I can only imagine the expression on my face that my friend saw as I momentarily lost focus on our conversation, waiting for my turn to say hello to Ben and share that I have the privilege of raising an autistic child, too!

When he came over and introduced himself, I jumped up to shake his hand and tell him how excited I was to hear him speak because I am a mom of an autistic child. He instantly got excited and said, "You are just AMAZING!" He asked about my son and eagerly encouraged me to bring Dawson to his presentation the next day. He also told me that I had to meet his mom because she was amazing, too!

I took a picture with him and couldn't wait to share it with Dawson when I got home.

That night, I excitedly showed Dawson the picture and told him about Ben's story, all the amazing things he has accomplished, and the wonderful message he shares with the world. I saw a spark in Dawson's eyes as he listened.

The next day, I had the privilege of hearing Ben deliver his keynote. I had a permanent smile on my face the entire time, even during the stories that hit hard because they felt so familiar. I absolutely loved watching Ben thrive on stage and inspire an audience of nearly 1,000 people.

That day, I also had the gift of hearing Ben's mom and brother talk about the highs, lows, and in-betweens of supporting an autistic person. Once again, there were moments that felt like déjà vu as I heard their experiences from the perspective of another family. It reminded me that we are all on a similar, yet uniquely different, journey.

Later that afternoon, I bought a copy of the book Ben's mom, Sandy Hartranft, wrote, Swinging from the Chandelier, which also includes a section written by Ben.

When I brought the book home, I had Dawson sit down and read the back cover. He spent the entire time smiling, completely enthralled by Ben's story.

Watching Dawson read the back of Ben's book, with that same smile and excitement I had seen when we talked about the people in the book last spring, made me think about what these experiences might mean for him.

There is something special about seeing someone who shares a part of your experience, someone who understands things about you without needing them explained. I think that is what Dawson was finding in these stories. And while I love that he is able to see himself in others, I hope he begins to see something more, too.

I hope he sees the possibilities.

I hope that as he learns about other autistic people and the ways they have shared their gifts with the world, he begins to recognize that he has that same power. That his gifts, his personality, and his passions will continue to impact our world in ways big and small. That he can look at someone like Ben and begin to envision what his own future might hold.

Because I have no doubt that Dawson will change our world.

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