April is Autism Awareness Month, with April 2nd is World Autism Awareness day, which are coming up. When I think of valiant, I think of those struggling with this disorder and their families. Every day we try, fall short, just to try again. Sometimes we have a milestone, a victory if you will. It could be something small like letting us brush their hair without a fight, all the way to a new word, (spoken in context no less), to potty training or a week without meltdowns.
The valiant are the other children who stand up for those with autism who maybe unable to defend or explain for themselves. These could be classmates, church friends, neighbors, or siblings. Heidi Anne had an experience where a child (knowing that her brother has autism) told her "Your brother's a retard!!" She replied "No he's not!" then told the teacher. Heidi Anne explained to me, she didn't know what the word retard means, she just knows it isn't a nice word. Now this is a little girl who gets bullied or pushed around by others constantly. But don't insult her baby brother! I couldn't be prouder of her.
To me a coward shrinks away from the fight. The cowards are the ones that make rude remarks regarding our special children. They are the ones who glare, whisper, or talk behind our backs. A coward chooses to stay in the dark regarding autism and it's fellow disorders.
The valiant keep going out into public despite the difficulties this can involve, exposing their children to the world. Because the world won't adapt to them. They must learn to navigate this mad environment while we, as parents, can still guide them. You, as a special needs parent, are among the valiant in my book.
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If you cant say anything nice, then dont say anything at all--Bambi