Inspire, Summer 2003

hush Will so it wouldn’t be so embarrassing. But I believe when God commands us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, it means we are to sing to Him as best we can in the way He made us. And if this is the way God made Will, then he should sing the way he knows how.” The same happens in church if something funny is said and the congregation chuckles. Karen says Will laughs out loud because that is the level he hears, and occasionally that garners looks from others that seem to say, “What is wrong with your child?” or “What kind of parent are you?” “We try not to take this personally, but when we are already struggling from a difficult day with Will’s autism, it can be what sends us over the edge,” Karen confessed. Autistics tend to be very insecure, and so structure and consistency are important. Karen shared, “At home we follow a routine, but anything that deviates from that throws Will into confusion, restlessness, and an inability to focus.” Also, any place that is crowded or busy overwhelms Will. “Before we take him anywhere we consider many factors,” Karen stated. “Will it be too crowded or loud? Is Will calm and has he had an easy, stress-free day so far or is he wiped out from 22 Summer 2003 something earlier in the day? Do we have enough energy to do this, and what is our back-up plan if Will has a meltdown and we need to make a quick escape?” The area where Karen feels the greatest need is for wisdom in knowing how and when to discipline Will. She noted, “Disciplining is difficult because we try to explain to him what he did wrong, and we can tell that he just doesn’t understand what we are saying. We try to differentiate between not understanding and rebellion, but sometimes it is difficult to know.” Despite the confusion and uncertainty, Karen feels that by earning a degree in chemistry/biology and secondary education, she has an edge in understanding Will. She explained, “God has prepared me for having an autistic son by directing what areas I studied at Cedarville. I use my science background to help me understand brain function. Since autism is a neurological disorder, I am able to pick up any medical journal and learn the latest findings on how the brain works and from that figure out how Will’s brain is lacking in that area and then better understand his autism. From that I can address his therapy needs.” Karen uses her education background to help her understand how Will learns.