's more right than wrong

[Guest guest]

I want to thank Bob , his wife Suzanne, daugther and their autistic son for all they have tried to do in the time they have been "in the trenches". I also want to thank all the moms and kids in their excellent psa video that some on this site have unfairly mis-characterized as a plea for "pity".

I am having a hard time trying to understand where so much anger, open hostility, bitterness and at times unnecessarily mean-spirited comments come from? What drives this seething anger and suspicion of the "s? Surely it must be more than simply joining foces with a group that many have ample reason to believe has betrayed all we hold ear? How else does one confront the enemy on a daily basis unless one is inside his tent? Apparently, some of the harshest critics of the 's appear driven by the simple fact the 's have not been in the "trenches" from the very beginning. Apparently, for some at least, having an autistic grandson and a daughter that you have spent your entire life desperately trying to protect from any harm simply isn't good enough.

Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, there will always be a small number of people who will use every opportunity to discredit the 's. They will never "measure up" to the early mom's and dad's, that too often found themselves virtually alone when autism "knocked on their door". Liz Birt comes to mind but she is but one of hundreds that deserve the prayers and appreciation of grandparents who have yet to hear "autism knock" on their door. Are we to hold these grandparents forever suspect because the tragedy of autism has waited so long to "knock on their door"?

To those tireless, dedicated, determined moms and dads,I thank you for every grandpa who felt his heart break as he watched his "namesake" regress into a lost world he has yet to find his way out of. To them, thanks for providing my son and his wife the opportunity to help my grandchild through the heroic work you have done for decades. Our family will forever be in your debt.

Personally, I was inspired by Suzanne 's statement: "Authism knocked on the wrong door". That statement was immediately recognized by myself as a statement of fierce resolve, not self-aggrandizement. Self-determination, not self-pity. It said to me: We are not going away and we will never give up until we get justice for our grandson. Couldn't have said it better myself.

By the way, I have enclosed an email that appeared on EOH that says it all for me:

my wife doesn;t often show her emotions but she came upstairs this morning crying.elda and i had both been watching the psa on mautism.we were both saying atlast somebody understands.damon our son is twentyeight with no future but srs and we all know thats notanything but missguided people with good intetions.i am trying to be polite.i wonder how many people have to lock the ice box every night or they might find quite afew things eaten.when damon was younger we went through a problym with him processing corn.we care for him 24 hours aday 7 days aweek there is nobody to help. damon is siv foot five and weighs over 230lbs.we have had the police called on us twice becuase of damon becomming upset and screaming. i realize i have been wondering all over the place .all i can say is god bless don imus the wrights and every on associated with the autism community.somebody finally understands"