Today Different Dream welcomes guest blogger Ron Sandison. Ron writes and speaks around the country about his experiences growing up with autism. He’s also husband of Kristen and the proud papa to a new daughter, Makayla Marie. I had the pleasure of meeting Ron, his wife, and tiny baby (totally adorable) and hearing him speak at a conference in May. His story of a mom who devoted her life to refining his autism is both moving and powerful.

Autism Thunderstorms and Beautiful Days

On April 1 of 2016, I was the keynote speaker at Ernie Els Awe in Autism Conference in Jupiter, Florida. It was a beautiful day with the sun shining, 80 degree weather, and a cool breeze. Life seemed perfect. Two days later when I returned home to Michigan, I was greeted by 27 degree weather and an ice storm. My cloud nine experience quickly deflated.

My journey with autism has been like Michigan weather. Rain, ice, and snowstorm days–meltdowns from sensory overload and seasons of underemployment. But also sunny beautiful days–graduating from college with a Master of Divinity and marrying a wonderful wife.

2 Beautiful Days

On March 20, 2016 my beautiful daughter, Makayla Marie, was born. Four days later when we arrived home from the hospital the first copy of my book, A Parent’s Guide to Autism: Practical Advice. Biblical Wisdom was waiting for me. That was another beautiful day.

Too Many Autism Thunderstorms

Due to my sensory issues, my life was filled with more autism thunderstorms than beautiful days. As a young child, I had difficulty managing my emotions. When I became frustrated or angry, I would scream and bang my head full-force repeatedly against my bedroom wall. I also struggled with regulating my sense of fear and anxiety.

At five years of age, I went with my family for the first time to the movie theater. During one of the movie previews, a hand began to expand on the screen. After the hand covered the whole screen, it suddenly exploded. The unexpected sound of the explosion caused me to have a meltdown. I screamed and ran from the theater. My mom had to take me home immediately.

Overcoming Autism Thunderstorms

To help me reach my full potential, my mom quit her job as an art teacher and became a Ron teacher. She implemented pre-ABA art therapy to teach me social and communication skills. She decided to help me refine my disabilities into beautiful gifts.

When you walk on the hot pavement to the beach and your barefoot steps on a sharp jagged piece of glass, you shout out in pain. Autism unrefined is filled with jagged autistic quirks, unfiltered inappropriate comments, relentless head-banging, and meltdowns.

Autism refined, on the other hand, is like walking on the warm sandy beach with the ocean waves and discovering a smooth piece of glass that has been changed by the power of the ocean. Such glass we put on display as art.

My autism was not always refined. Autism caused my speech to be delayed. My seven-year-old brother Chuck bragged, “My brother sounds weird; he speaks Norwegian!” Through intense speech therapy I have overcome my speech impediment.

The Story of Autism Thunderstorms and Beautiful Days

My mom’s passion to empower me to succeed in life and her unconditional love was my motivation for writing A Parent’s Guide to Autism: Practical Advice. Biblical Wisdom. I desire to provide hope to parents with a child or children with autism and share the insight I learned from my mom. While writing the book I also interviewed over forty of the top experts in the autism field and also forty parents who have a child with autism.

The book shares the dark stormy days when I experienced horrible sensory overloads. It teaches parents methods to handle sensory issues. It also shares the beautiful days of setting the school record for the 3,200 meter relay, getting married, and having a baby.

Autism is not an illness to be cured, but a different neurological way of processing information. You can’t cure autism, but you can refine it with therapy and love. Autism refined is beautiful.

Your Autism Thunderstorm Experiences?

Comments about Ron’s story or your own autism thunderstorm are welcome. Please share them in the comment box. Thanks!

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