Gage Me!

There is no "U" missing in the title...just like there is no "U" in the autism experience. It's not about you...it's about the individual labeled as having autism.

A little under 19 years ago, a developmental pediatrician forgot that. At that time, autism was still rarely diagnosed. So the pediatrician, head of his department, informed the mother of the child that her son had severe Infantile Autism and would be institutionalized at some point...she was young and could have more children. The mother recognizing that the pediatrician forgot that this was about her son, not her or society, immediately ignored him. She treated her son with patience, dignity and used their commonalities to bridge communication, teach love, offer hope and learn about HiS dreams.

When the boy named Gage became a teenager he stepped out into the world on his own, a "severely communication impaired" individual and told his church he wished to be baptized. When the pastor asked him to verify his understanding of Christ, this "non-verbal" young man answered in clear, easy English the call...because in the end it's not about "U"...it's about Him.

Althea Conklin
San Antonio, TX