Articles relating to specific neurodiversities / special needs.
Masking involves intentionally learning neurotypical behaviors and mimicking them in social situations. Girls tend to mask early on as they want to be like their peers, they want to have friends. This, however, is part of the reason girls slip under the radar and aren’t often diagnosed until their late teens or as an adult.
I am a father to a special child on the autism spectrum. While I know how hard it is for me, I can’t help but wonder how much harder it is for my son. I always ask myself, “How do I find my son in me? To understand and build a bond tighter than a knot?” April is Autism Awareness Month and I would like to share my journey with my son, Haans, who turns five this year.
At his first birthday party, my son cried endlessly when everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’. Going out was always a nightmare; he would cry endlessly until we got to the car. At 18-months, he was still babbling, not forming words. I waited for him to point eagerly at objects or people. I’m still waiting. Eating was a problem too, until my mother discovered a trick to feeding him.
There is no parenting book or blog that can prepare you for the moment you have to utter the words “My child has autism”. A week after I received this official diagnosis, it suddenly dawned on me – What did I know about autism? The answer scared me: Not enough.
This year marks my first Autism Awareness Day as a proud mother to an autistic child. It’s only been 7 months since my 2-and-half-year-old toddler was officially diagnosed. Since then, I have taken an active interest in autism, to educate myself about this developmental disorder and its many wonders.
Malay 
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