You are your child’s greatest advocate when they need a diagnosis
You are your child’s greatest advocate the day they are diagnosed with autism
You are your child’s greatest advocate the day they begin receiving supports
You are your child’s greatest advocate to be there the days they go through challenges
You are your child’s greatest advocate when they need understanding
You are your child’s greatest advocate when they go to school for the first time
You are your child’s greatest advocate if your child is ever bullied
You are your child’s greatest advocate when anyone doesn’t understand that you have to educate the way your child learns
You are your child’s greatest advocate if they ever fall on a wait-list for supports
You are your child’s greatest advocate when anyone doesn’t understand that you have to meet your child where they are
You are your child’s greatest advocate when you enter their IEP meetings
You are your child’s greatest advocate when they may need accommodations outside of the school
You are your child’s greatest advocate to help them transition to adulthood
You are your child’s greatest advocate when the school bus stops coming after the age of 21
You are your child’s greatest advocate to make sure they have a village that surrounds them for their entire life
You are your child’s greatest advocate for 500 other some-odd reasons that aren’t listed here. If you’ve met one person with autism you’ve met one person with autism and each of our stories is different
You are your child’s greatest advocate to make sure they never feel alone
For those reading this, take this poem and share it with your local communities to make sure each parent and guardian who raises a child with autism knows about their impact. I was diagnosed with autism at 4. My parents became my greatest advocates and through years of occupational, physical, music, speech and theatre therapy I’ve been able to live many of my dreams today as an adult on the spectrum who is a national speaker and author. I now have become an advocate in the hopes of helping people on the spectrum and their families.
Never forget the impact you have because even if you don’t realize it at times…
You are your child’s greatest advocate they will ever have
