Op-Ed: Invisible Disability by Theresa Britton

The Following is a Op/Ed Submitted to LevittownNow.com by Theresa Britton. It has been Edited for Content. 

To random people in a store always remember this and you will be fine, maybe even GOOGLE disabilities in children and educate yourself before you say something you may regret like the husband and wife we had an encounter with.

I am sure they will think twice about talking about a child again!

Children are innocent, they didn’t ask to be put in this terrible world of miserable people. Now I have children, one is a  severely autistic and developed mild mental retardation by the age of 3 years old.

I will NOT ever hide my child because he is MINE, I will not keep him home so I can go food shopping, he is MY SON. I will not be embarrassed by him flapping his arms, mumbling words, repeating words over and over, stemming or ignoring my commands. This is MY SON, I am his mother and as his mother it is my responsibility to teach him the world as best as I can.

Now my son is not in a wheelchair or does not have facial features to make him look like he has a disability ahhh yes looks can be deceiving eh! Please also don’t forget that they can hear you talk, he may not be able to communicate back he can hear this and MY SON has feelings too.

I don’t let my son do anything bad in stores, if he carries on he is told not to do so and yes there are times he can be quite hyper. I do what I have to do to calm him down and yes there have been times I’ve  had to leave the store because of brutal meltdowns. However, when you stare, he can see that.

I often wonder if he is thinking what are they staring at? When you talk about him, does he wonder why do they say means things like that, I did nothing wrong.

I love my son more than anyone in this world will ever know but he has feelings too. He knows what he wants and he loves to go to the stores with Mommy, he also knows where the movies are and also knows Mommy will buy it.

Unfortunately today I didn’t have money with me when he picked a Snoopy Charlie Brown video and he was sad I couldn’t get it. I dealt with the sadness for a bit and I hoped to get out there this week and get it

Yes people get annoyed because of screaming kids, jumping around, talking loud, throwing things and etc… Accept the children the way they are people, you never know what those parents are going through to see what is wrong with their child, if anything at all. No matter  if there is something wrong or not,keep your opinion to yourself or until you get out to your car or home.

It is rude to talk about anyone who cannot defend themselves and that is why I am here, he is my son and I will defend him 500% of the way.

Me writing this is just not for me, it is for anyone who has a child with a disability. We need to look beyond the looks we get and smile back; Smile back because they are our GIFTS we received for a reason.

All I ask in return is to have some respect for these kids when they are trying their hardest to move but they feel the need to move back to where they were before you asked them to move. People need to understand they have feelings, they cry, they need love like we do, they need those hugs and kisses every night and I refuse to let my son go to bed thinking of arrogant people in the store that were mean to him for no reason.

Innocent children, all children need respect love, hugs and kisses to know they are loved. Mine are smothered with it honestly lol.

I see the random faces we get, I have learned awhile ago to ignore the looks. They aren’t going to hurt us, ignore and keep going. Now when someone actually says something rude, they deserve to get the deal that is given at the time, no matter where it is. T

They need to be taught respect for any child!

I take my son everywhere, he loves shopping, stores, walks, playgrounds, the beach, some rides, out doors and guess what, he will keep loving all of those things and I will not hide him from anyone, he will learn from me somehow to ignore the arrogant people and keep shining and smiling like he always does.

My son is filled with so much happiness and it is never going to stop. So be warned, if you run into us at the store at anytime, be KIND and Jon will be your friend.

WE WILL FIGHT THIS AUTISM TOGETHER JON! 

Thank You,
Theresa Barlow/Britton
AKA Jon’s mentor
and
his MOTHER