Number One: People grow and develop. Education works. Sticking by someone and believing in him works.<\/p>\n
Number Two: Disabled does not mean “can’t.” It means “I possibly can, with the right supports. Give me a chance.”<\/p>\n
I have a lot to be grateful for. 1) Nat’s tremendous growth and ability to learn; 2) Nat’s wonderful independent living skills education at the May Institute;<\/a> 3) Nat’s amazing loving caregiver who lives with him in their small apartment in Boston nearby; 4) Nat’s tremendous growth and ability to learn. Lather, rinse, repeat.<\/em><\/p>\n Especially given the concern and worry I devoted towards Nat’s self care skills. I despaired that he’d ever learn how to even make his own breakfast, as you can read here in this 2004 New York Times article<\/a> I wrote for their Education Life section.<\/p>\n Read the piece,<\/a> and then play this video,<\/a> taken this morning by his caregiver John. John merely said to Nat, “What do you want for breakfast?” while sitting on the couch, not even in the kitchen. And then Nat went ahead, as you can see. NO PROMPTS.<\/p>\n And now say to yourself, “With autism, never say ‘never.’ With any human being, never say ‘never.'” If any professional every tells you “He will never be able to …” you might consider walking right out of that office, and directing them to this blog post and the video below:<\/p>\n