This past week, I joined hundreds of autism advocates at the Autism Speaks to Washington National Autism Summit in Washington, D.C. For the first time, I was surrounded for three days by people in all walks of life who all walk one path together: raising a child with autism. We spoke with each other about our children: their challenges AND their abilities. We talked about how hard some things are – like not being able to hug our children. Not knowing what it is they need despite our every attempt to aid them in communication. We discussed the efforts being made within our states to help our children by securing services for them that would enable them to learn to communicate, to learn coping skills in order not to hurt themselves or others, and to be able to function as independently as possible as they grow into adults. I heard over and over that parents were not out to “normalize”, “fix”, or even “cure” their kid. We all just want our children to experience life to its fullest, however they are able.We recognize autism in our child, and while autism certainly challenges us and our children, we celebrate the children we have been blessed to raise.<\/p>\n