Navigating Love and Autism

My grandfather is an avid reader of the New York Times. I decided to pick up the newspaper instead of watching an other awful movie, and I came across this article "Navigating Love and Autism" by Amy Harmon, on the front page.

As some of you may know, I have a brother with severe autism, so I am always interested to read about how people perceive the developmental disorder not having lived with it.

In this case, the article spoke about Jack Robison and Kirsten Lindsmith who were diagnosed with the Asperger Syndrome. They, through their disorder, have found love; their own kind of love. I read the entire article with watery eyes because, although Pierre cannot express what he feels entirely, I know he feels the same way on certain subjects. For example, Pierre loves having pressure applied to his body; either I have to sit on him, squeeze his hands, or give him a overly excessive bear hug. Also, even if he doesn't say it, I know that Pierre loves my family as much as we love him, but, in his own different way. He is almost like a cat, he sits next to you and listens, and through his giggling and his moans, we know he is having a good time. He loves being surrounded by his three sisters, as shown by his hand flapping, and jumping.

I could relate Pierre more to Kristen, who also loves high pressure. She also admit to have had flapped her hands and asked for her mother to sit on her when she was younger to relieve a certain tension within her, just like Pierre, who always asks for "squeeze me".

What I love about this article is that they give me hope that Pierre might find love when he is older and hopefully a little more functional than he is now. She explains everything I understood with Pierre, such as hugging and putting an arm around someone does not come naturally to somebody with autism, which adds struggle to their relationships. Yet, through their struggle, they do believe they found love. Being the hopeless romantic I am, I started crying my eyes out once I read that in the article, which was not very far on... Yes, I am emotional, but also this subject is so personal, because Pierre deserves to be loved, like any one of us, and I pray that he will get that one day.

Please read the article! It really makes you wonder about relationships, and, once again being the hopeless romantic; that love prevails all! :P I have never appreciated an article so much!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/us/navigating-love-and-autism.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general