Nana to the fabulous four

I rarely mention my other three grandchildren in this blog. Not because I am not proud of them or because all my focus is on my sweet girl. The reason they are not mentioned often is because I am blogging to bring awareness to autism and how we can help recognize the importance of autism acceptance in the workplace. I try to be the voice for Autism Insights Foundation and make sure people know the importance of inclusion and how it benefits both the employee and employer.

So, with that disclaimer in mind, I am now going to tell you just how incredible the remainder of the fabulous four are. My sweet girl is the oldest of the four cousins. We are a very close knit family, which means the cousins are often together. The cousins range in age from 8-15 years old. They are kind and loving kids who have been raised in an environment that allows them to be the kind of young people that make me proud.

We have always been open about the diagnosis of my sweet girl. Autism is not a taboo word in our homes. My grandchildren understand that ASD is really just your brain operating in a different way. They are understanding of her sensory needs and allow her the time and space she needs when our loud (and overwheming) family get together. They also find sweet moments where they connect on a deeper level, doing art projects, playing games or taking a family hike.

What makes me proudest about my grandchildren is how they take this knowledge into their own communities. At school and team events know how to look out for the kid who often gets left out and they understand how to make a connection and foster inclusiveness.

On this quiet Sunday morning I am just going to take some time to reflect on how my grandchildren are being raised in an environment that makes room for differences. Our future lies in the cousins, brothers, sisters, and friends who are being raised in an environment that includes a peer on the spectrum. I hope they are all being raised to be kind to those who seem different, and bring acceptance and empathy to the world.