Perhaps this is stating the obvious, but before I had a child with autism, I never thought about it this way. Maybe a learning disability, but not a disability disability. You know, like the kind that could be in the Special Olympics.
I didn't know anything. I was blissfully ignorant.
That is because autism is for the most part an invisible disability. Look at Moe and you'd probably have no idea he wasn't just like any other four year old.
And this is why it was so important to do something I had been putting off for a while. I finally got Moe this bracelet.
Moe is a runner, and although we all do our best to make sure he is safe, there is always a chance he could get away. And while he was running and enjoying his freedom, he would have no idea that he was lost, or that someone wasn't right behind him to bring him home. He wouldn't be able to ask for help. He wouldn't respond if someone called to him.
Losing Moe is my number one biggest fear. I worry about it twenty four hours a day. I have dreamt about losing him. And of course, there was the time he did get out of our yard.
The flip side of the bracelet has an ID number and simply says:
AUTISM
NON VERBAL
CALL IMMEDIATELY
Emergency professionals know to look for these bracelets, and so do a lot of other people. If someone did find Moe, they would know why he wasn't talking to them. And most importantly, there is an ID number on the bracelet, and that number is registered with MedicAlert. So when someone calls them, they know how to get in touch with us right away.
This is not an expensive service - just $20 a year. I hope we never have to use it, but knowing Moe is wearing that bracelet gives me just a little bit more peace of mind.
Now I just have to remember to put it on him every day.
