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We Cannot Give Up on Our Children

We Cannot Give Up on Our Children

Last updated on: April 27, 2016 at 6:00 pm by Dilshad Ali

We Cannot Give Up on Our Children 2016-04-24T22:32:32-04:00 Dilshad Ali

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Aysar, a seven-year-old Syrian autistic refugee.

Ali Family Autism Truths #27 – April 27, 2016

Editor’s Note: For the last five days of April, I’m out of town and am getting creative with our Ali Family Autism Truths posts. Today’s, yesterday’s and tomorrow’s posts are brief interviews my friend Jamie Pacton did with Syrian autistic children and their families, who have been helped by A Global Voice for Autism. Jamie writes about autism for Parents.com. A Global Voice for Autism is a wonderful organization that helps autistic individuals and families in underserved communities, like Jenin (in Israel), Turkey and in Syria.

Our own family’s autism truths are enlightening, difficult, joyous and heartbreaking. But we are blessed with access to support, education, knowledge and advocacy. The same cannot be said for other autistic kids and individuals and their families. So, as we are nearing the end of Autism Awareness/Action/Acceptance Month, I think we all need to learn some Autism Truths from a global perspective.

This interview is about Aysar, age 7, and was conducted with his mother, Ibtihaj. Please click here to support this organization and its campaign to help get 160 Syrian autistic refugee children go to school.

Jamie Pacton: Please describe your family. Also, please include when and how you knew your child was autistic…

Ibtihaj: I have two sons and a daughter. We are a compassionate family and love and take care of each other. I first noticed that he had autism when I was trying to play with him and realized that he wasn’t responding or reacting in any way.

JP: Tell me a bit more about your autistic child– age, what does he/she enjoy, what challenges does he or she face?

I: He’s seven years old. His favorite things to do are to go on swings and to play games. The biggest challenge I face supporting him is feeding him healthy foods. He gets angry when I prevent him from eating sweets and chips and refuses to eat other things.

JP: In your culture, how is autism viewed? How has this view affected your family and your child?

I: People in my society pity Aysar and see him as a sick child. Personally, I don’t care if other people judge me and think badly of our family because of this. I just want to do what is best for him. However, his father feels hopeless. He cares about what other people think and is frustrated because he believes that the therapy process takes too long. He just wants him “better.”

JP: How has a Global Voice for Autism helped your child and your family?

I: A Global Voice for Autism has helped me keep my hopes up. They taught me skills that allowed me to teach him how to communicate, and now I know that I can teach him anything.

JP: What’s one thing you wish the people around you knew about your autistic child?

I: I want others to know how much Aysar has achieved. He has made changes for the best and has learned a lot of new independent skills. I want others to know this because it will remind other mothers and families not to give up on their children with autism. I will never give up on Aysar, and they shouldn’t either.

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