Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

Why spread autism awareness?

Whether you, or your child, have special needs, autism, a differing ability, or are typical in all of the typical ways, you, and your child are important.

Worthy. Worthy of love, opinions, outbursts, understanding, empathy, forgiveness, and acceptance.

Acceptance.

In order to accept those that we may not fully understand, we must first be made aware. I believe that, most of the time, people are more empathetic when they’ve been made aware that their own realities may greatly differ from the realities of others. Many of us raising special needs children are attempting to do just that – to raise awareness and ask that you accept our children as easily as you assume we will accept yours.

Why spread autism awareness?

Because it matters. People with autism matter. All people matter. So today, on World Autism Awareness Day, I ask that you, if you have typical children, remind them that the world is full of all different types of people, and that each holds value. Import. Magic, even.

I ask that you remind yourself to judge less quickly today.

Tomorrow.

This life.

That when standing in line behind a child who seems to be head-butting his mother, that you don’t assume that he is undisciplined, and that you give his tired mom a smile. That you say hello to her little boy. That you exercise patience if it’s taking her longer to complete her transaction than you’d like.

Tucker Smile in snow

And I promise you that I’ll do the same. Today. Tomorrow. This life. I promise you that before I assume anything about you, that I’ll remember that your reality is yours.
In honor of World Autism Awareness Day, I will make somebody’s day better. I will thank God for giving me the son that I have and I will make that little boy of mine laugh. I will make him know that he’s important.

The amazing people at Autism Speaks were kind enough to feature my post about about the 10 things that special needs and autism moms wish you knew. Yesterday, they shared my words on their site to kick off World Autism Awareness Month.  It’s received more than 40K Facebook shares so far. (SQUEE)

Today, they’re featuring a post of mine on the eight things I wish I knew about autism. I hope you’ll take a moment to visit, and share it if you’re so inclined.

Maybe, through our voices, and our dreams, a few more people will look at children like mine with more empathy, acceptance, and understanding today.

And on all of the days.

All people are worthy


by Kristi Campbell

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  • Deb @ Urban Moo Cow - Super proud of you.April 2, 2014 – 3:34 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Aw thanks, Deb!! It’s pretty fun to be shared like that. Especially for such a great cause.April 2, 2014 – 4:43 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - Perfectly said and I am so proud of your 40K FB shares! Going to check out your other post right now!April 2, 2014 – 4:06 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thanks, Emily! I just hope today’s doesn’t totally bomb after yesterday’s was so well received by their readers! You rock!April 2, 2014 – 4:50 pmReplyCancel

  • Janine Huldie - Very proud of you indeed and couldn’t agree more you nailed it hitting this one out of the park 🙂April 2, 2014 – 4:18 pmReplyCancel

  • Jen Kehl - You are amazing. Just so….really breathtaking. I have watched this journey of your go from denial to acceptance so gracefully. And now to being the voice for so many moms who are scared and uncertain. I am so proud to know you, and know so many people are blessed when I share your words.
    TTTxinfinityApril 2, 2014 – 4:44 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Wow. TTT x infinity right back at you, Jen. Thanks for being there for this journey, and thanks even more for getting it. I’m proud and blessed to know you and call you a friend.April 2, 2014 – 6:08 pmReplyCancel

  • Cheairs - Beautiful….thank you!!April 2, 2014 – 5:04 pmReplyCancel

  • Dana - I am so proud to know you, Kristi – you are moving mountains with your words, my friend.April 2, 2014 – 6:55 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @ Golden Spoons - So happy for you Kristi and so happy that your beautiful words are being shared with so many people. It WILL make a difference – YOU make a difference.April 2, 2014 – 9:06 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thanks so much Lisa! I appreciate the support and encouragement so very very much!April 3, 2014 – 9:46 amReplyCancel

  • Tamara - Heading there right now, my sweet!April 2, 2014 – 9:13 pmReplyCancel

  • Krista - So happy to see your beautiful words shared with so many! Congratulations! Tucker is so lucky to have such an awesome mom! *hugs*April 2, 2014 – 10:02 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thanks, Krista!! Big hugs back at you – I hope everybody’s doing really well!!April 3, 2014 – 9:48 amReplyCancel

  • Angel The Alien - COngratulations on having your writing featured on Autism Speaks! I bet you’ll get lots of new readers now. 😀April 2, 2014 – 10:05 pmReplyCancel

  • Angel The Alien - I read your articles on the site just now and was going to comment, but the comments are loading slow as molasses, so I came back here. Great articles! I loved the one about the things you wish you knew about autism. I hope that helps a lot of parents who are first learning that their child may have autism, to realize that it isn’t the end of the world, and that they and their child can still have a great life.April 2, 2014 – 10:12 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thanks for reading them both. I’m glad you liked them and I, too, hope that a parent is helped by the reminder that life will be beautiful even if it’s a bit different from what they planned on. And just as well you didn’t comment over there yesterday – something happened to their site and I saw some blog friends comments got “eaten” (and so did some of the FB shares which is such a bummer). Thanks again!April 3, 2014 – 9:54 amReplyCancel

  • Linda Atwell - Out One Ear - AWESOME! Sharing. 🙂April 2, 2014 – 11:04 pmReplyCancel

  • Jennifer Steck - I’m so glad that people are more open and willing to share such important information. It can make a difference and you are, Kristi. 🙂April 3, 2014 – 7:33 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I think people realizing that autism is different in every person and that, for parents, life will still be amazing would go a long way toward acceptance. Thanks so much for the encouragement, Jennifer!April 3, 2014 – 10:04 amReplyCancel

  • Jessica Herndon - Beautiful post, Kristi.April 3, 2014 – 7:40 amReplyCancel

  • Sandy Ramsey - Kristi, I never get tired of reading what you write. Your passion and strength are incredible and you know what? People hear you, they listen!! Every word you write is important and the way you do it, in a REAL and approachable way makes so much of a difference.
    I’m so proud of you and all the words you have put out there in the name of autism awareness! XXApril 3, 2014 – 10:32 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Sandy – what an amazing compliment. Wow, thank you. I’m blown away and completely flattered. I hope people listen because Tucker, and everybody, deserves acceptance. Hopefully a few more people will stop and think before assuming something the next time they are in a situation where they may be thinking of judging. XO friend.April 3, 2014 – 11:58 amReplyCancel

  • Melissa @ Home on Deranged - One of the best parts of this piece for me was the notion that maybe, just maybe, we can lay off each other in the judgy department. If my kids are acting out, I have no doubt people are running a list in their head. I’ve been guilty of it. Doesn’t have to be that way, though.April 3, 2014 – 10:39 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thanks Melissa. It’s really easy to judge and I think it’s really natural. However, since having Tucker, and having somebody call him weird, I’m committed to not judging others. Because the truth is, I don’t know their realities. Somebody being rude or bossy may have just found out she’s ill – or something.April 3, 2014 – 12:07 pmReplyCancel

  • Sarah - Thank you. Off to read now.April 3, 2014 – 1:23 pmReplyCancel

  • Jodi Flaherty - So very proud of you and the spread of this so important message, Kristi! Congrats, and very well said!April 3, 2014 – 2:05 pmReplyCancel

  • Kelly L McKenzie - Amazing. Here’s to another 40K shares Kristi! I thank you for the reminder to not be so judgy and the need to say hello to both tired mom and child. Jumbo hugs for both you and the Tuckster.April 3, 2014 – 3:49 pmReplyCancel

  • Jessica - I love these articles, Kristi! You are so right on. Everyone deserves to be heard and understood, especially those who don’t have the kind of voice that many may be able to understand. I bet these kids would be glad to know they have your voice! I was thinking about it the other day, and of my friends with boys, I think about half of them are on the spectrum (and yes, they are all very different). That’s just IRL, so not to mention the kids of parents I have “met” online. No doubt we need to talk about this — for understanding, for treatment, for possible prevention. This is a super important issue. Nice job, girl, and congrats!April 3, 2014 – 4:05 pmReplyCancel

  • Lizzy - Muddle-Headed Mamma - I totally agree with Lizzi’s comment here, Kristi … you are CHANGING things. Your writing is educating people (I know for a fact your blog has educated me) and helping your readers view things from a different perspective. And in helping your readers view things from a different perspective, in turn they will help their children to do so too so that maybe the next generation will be more empathetic and aware that their reality is not the only reality. That’s so fantastic that your posts got shared so many thousands of times! I’m sure your words will be read many hundreds of thousands of times in the future too. xxApril 3, 2014 – 4:29 pmReplyCancel

  • Dan Murphy - A wonderful, heart felt post.

    What really caught my attention? Your phrase, “Today. Tomorrow. This life.”

    That’s right, our understanding, caring, and advocacy needs to be for the long haul. Not just for World Autism Awareness Day.April 3, 2014 – 6:10 pmReplyCancel

  • Courtney Conover - This post was beyond moving, Kristi, and beautiful in every way. (I’ve come to expect nothing less from you. 😉

    Super congrats on your posts being recognized by Autism Speaks!!

    You go, Girl! <3April 3, 2014 – 9:33 pmReplyCancel

  • Mike - I just read your guest post and it was fantastic as always. As was this post too, Kristi. So very, very proud of you and Tucker always 🙂April 4, 2014 – 7:32 pmReplyCancel

  • christine - Oh, Kristi. You are doing wonderful, positive, helpful things. I’m so glad your articles are getting such publicity. You have a great way of explaining your world to those of us who aren’t living your life. Rock on, Sister!April 6, 2014 – 8:20 pmReplyCancel

  • Michelle - I have to read the post you wrote for them, I did read the 10 things one. All people are worthy…YES!April 10, 2014 – 9:57 amReplyCancel

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