Happy World Autism Awareness Day!

April is World Autism Awareness Month and today, April 2, is World Autism Awareness Day. Every year at this time, I try and reflect on the past 12 months with our beautiful Christos Arthur. 

Christos turned six a few weeks ago and I could write a whole blog telling you all about the wonderful strides he’s made this year, including putting on his socks and shoes and saying “Hi Mama” as I walked through the door. I could also tell you about our challenges – erratic sleep cycle and a diet which now consists of chocolate chip cookies, fries, McDonald’s chicken nuggets and pizza. We’re trying our best to work through these things but my Lord, some days, are HARD.

I worry about these base level issues, but this year we’re also taking a close look at his education. In September, Christos will be in Grade 1 where he will encounter more structure and require more focus to get him through a classroom setting. Jim and I are in meetings upon meetings trying to figure out our options and to advocate for our boy who needs extra help. It hasn’t been easy. The ‘system’ doesn’t make it easy, so it’s up to us. Sometimes I feel like we only have one shot at a decision this huge and if we mess it up, my child’s life goes up in smoke (I know that’s an exaggeration, but the stress is real). 

But then something happened that gave me hope… 

I recently took a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) seminar for a client. When I think of DEI, I think of diverse backgrounds, cultures, identities and even experience level, but in this session, they included neurodivergent people, which I had never considered. When these experts spoke about inclusion, I could picture my little guy, someday in the future, getting a fair chance in life.

They also spoke about Culture Add vs. Culture Fit and it stopped me in my tracks. If you’ve ever hired anyone, you’ve likely had the mindset that qualifications + fit = hired (aka Culture Fit). And that can work, but the concept of Culture Add is hiring someone who has new perspectives and new ideas and adds new energy into the workplace. When I heard this, it’s like a lightbulb went off in my head. It makes so much sense, I only wish I would have learned this concept 15 years ago. 

As we research different opportunities for Christos it’s becoming abundantly clear that the school system is very much a Culture Fit situation. There are certain options, and your child must fit into one of them. But what about the kids who are outliers who need extra support or who have extra gifts? Is fitting them into a typical classroom the best for THEM? It’s more convenient and easier for the school but is it best for the whole system to try and fit a round peg into a square hole? If only education could start with the child and utilize the Culture Add concept, everyone would be better for it.

I don’t know what will happen, but I do know that I will not rest until we find the best place for Christos to grow and learn in a Culture Add environment where his beautiful mind and gentle heart is considered an asset.

So let today be a wonderful reminder that inclusion and compassion are cornerstone values of the best people in the world. Let’s be an example to everyone around us to use these two important tools - that cost nothing - to help make someone’s day a little brighter.