So last week I got a call from my daughter. The family was camping and we were going to meet them the next day at the campground. My sweet girl had been up all night the night before, pacing with leg pain. She suffers from restless leg syndrome and it was at its worst. I was in my Nana can solve anything mode, so off to Walmart I went to see what I could find to lessen the symptoms.

My sweet girl has used compression socks at times but they are not necessarily convenient, nor are they really easy for her to put on. I was excited to see that in the sporting goods section they had compression sleeves for the calf without feet in them, so needless to say, in the cart they went! Little did I know they would become the mainstay of her wardrobe and a comfort item that reduces the pain of restless leg syndrome for her.

Just so you have the visual, she is now rocking the compression sleeves on her legs (with shorts) and headphones (which provide a quieter environment and lessen anxiety). Both of these items can seem somewhat stigmatizing, however they provide her comfort. I look at these items much the way you would look at someones hearing aid, cane or walker. They make life easier and make my sweet girl feel better.

This brings me to my question. Can a workplace make accommodations for someone with ASD that allow them to function in the most comfortable manor without people staring, making rude comments, or joking behind their back? Can we look at the person who is wearing the headphones, with the compression sleeves showing, and see the person and not the things that might make them look different? I think we can. I think there are so many kind, caring and considerate people in the world that we are in a place and time where inclusion is the name of the game.

Lets work on being the kind of people mom always wanted us to be.

Until next time…