Autism is a challenge not a tragedy

I was researching some silly shirts & autism awareness sites when I came across a blog of an autistic adult ... Here's an excerpt about how we should view autism:

"But this is where awareness campaigns come in. Rather than using them to explain to people how horrible it is to have a child with autism, why don't we use them to explain to people what autism is like, how we live and how we have fun, how we solve problems, how we interact? Why not show people that autism is not a tragedy simply by giving them a realistic picture of what autism is like--the good, the bad, the everyday people who, like any human being, have problems but yet have the potential for a happy, worthwhile life?

Yes, autism can cause problems. It can be difficult sometimes. Things take longer to learn; things take longer to do; maybe we need more help than most people need. But if we can just explain to the everyday people who have grown up with cultural prejudice that isn't even their fault--if we can induce them to challenge the idea that disability is naturally, obviously tragic--then we'll have won a great Victory" http://chaoticidealism.livejournal.com/89173.html#cutid1

Wow... How true it is that we are so selfish to think that any disability reduces someone's value... Yes I know that everyone will say "I don't think that" but even having pity for someone with a disability(any disability)bc their life isn't like yours, or thinking of all the "normal/typical" things that he/she might not experience is the same to me. Yes, life will be different for anyone with a disability & different for the family too but it doesn't mean it's worse.
I'm not saying I'm perfect & that I've never thought - "once we get passed this, then we can_____"... But maybe I need to be more focussed on living life like Ty wants to live it...yes I am going to continue his treatments & therapy but maybe my goals should focus more on what he would want instead of what I want or what's "normal" I mean let's face it - I'm not normal ;)
who said that God's plan for Ty is limited to a "recovery" from autism...maybe God's plan for Ty is exactly that - to experience this world in a way most of us can't - full of life, love, easy to forgive & no regrets...fearless! To soak up every aspect of everything we take for granted...Ty likes to put rocks in his mouth - he never eats them but just gets his tongue on it and then puts it down - I just assume that a rock isn't for eating, but Ty will test each one to make sure...maybe he's on to something...maybe we should admire the details of this world...right down to the taste of a rock?!

Thanks for reading....if you get a chance to read that other blog it's really good & has changed my view on things...