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Writer's pictureJennifer Sullivan

Breaking Misconceptions



I think a common misconception about Autism is that those on the spectrum lack empathy - I’ve heard this sentiment more than a few times. When Gabe was first diagnosed he wasn’t even 2 years old so I didn’t know if this misconception held any truth. I didn’t know many people with Autism at the time, especially who were close to me.


Part of my goal in writing ‘Piecing It Together’ is to wash away misconceptions and remind us all that we should always look at the individual and beyond the diagnosis.


My son is amazing. I know this every day, but it still feels incredible when someone else expresses that sentiment.


Gabe’s teacher recently pulled me aside to tell me about an incident with Gabe that had happened earlier that week. I braced for the worst because it was during a period that he was having an especially hard time with transitions at school (I’ll talk about transitions in a future blog).


One day during recess (Gabe’s favorite time of day), the kids were playing outside and Gabe was on his own running around. A little girl in his class, who he had become fond of, began crying and laid down on the ground quite inconsolable.


Gabe walked over to her and watched her for a moment.


He then proceeded to walk away and head in the direction of his teacher on the other side of the playground. Upon reaching her, he took his teacher’s hand and walked her in the direction of the little girl still crying on the ground.


Gabe’s teacher looked at him and said, “Maybe she needs some help?”


Gabe bent down next to her and began patting her hand and her back, consoling her for several minutes until she calmed down. Recess was soon over and Gabe had spent most of it sitting with this little girl.


When his teacher finished the story I wanted to hear her tell it over and over again. I could have listened to that story like a favorite new song that you blast on the radio every time it comes on.


Not only does my little boy not lack empathy, he seems to be overly aware of other’s emotions and always wants to help.

Gabe is the first to make sure everyone is included. His vocabulary is limited, but if someone is sitting when everyone else is standing, he pulls them up. If someone is alone and not with the group, he will pull you to the crowd. He wants no one left out or left behind. Most importantly he doesn’t want anyone to be unhappy.


With Autism - especially when verbal communication is minimal - we spend a lot of time guessing or trying to understand nonverbal cues. It is challenging, especially in the beginning, but you quickly learn how much we can communicate even without words and that love and kindness are truly universal.


So the next time you hear the misconception about autism and empathy, I hope you’ll remember the story of a little boy who spent his recess sitting with a girl who needed a friend, refusing to leave her side.


I know I sure do.

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