Autism is a developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition. This means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. In theory this is what everyone knows as autism but when you live with someone with autism, you view everything a little differently. 
 
As an autism mom, I define autism uniquely. And our definition of autism is permanent, unpredictable, and ever-changing. No eye contact, not wanting to be part of what other people were doing and so he would go into isolation, not interested in any toys, picky eater due to the textures of foods, have insomnia and/or sleepless nights (he will fall asleep and a couple of hours later will wake up and not be able to go back to sleep for hours), have an autoimmune system that overreacts to any small cold, be sensitive to loud sounds or too much commotion, does not communicate verbally, and can also have tantrums up-to 20 minutes (more or less), which can include screaming, crying, and sometimes hitting and pinching. These are only a few challenges we've experienced with our own son but are not limited to what others have faced and will face in the future. In some cases, there are those who have severe characteristics then what we have encountered, but this is our truth. 
 
Adrian has improved in several of these areas and the process has become a little easier thanks to all the therapies and with God's help and support from our loved ones and friends.  We need to make ourselves aware and sensitive to autism or any disabilities that we may encounter in others. These individuals are still people with specific feelings of pain, happiness, and even sadness. We may not understand, but it does not help when we become judgmental. Judgment is destructive while patience is constructive. We may not have all the answers, but we have and offer support.