DR RADICA MAHASE
In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2022, I am happy to highlight one very proud autism mom, Rebecca Fortune. She has been working quietly in the background, supporting other autism parents, doing her part to make Trinidad and Tobago inclusive for those with special needs/disabilities.
Her daughter Alexia is nine years old and her son Alex is seven. Fortune staid, “Alex was diagnosed as on the autism spectrum when he was two years old. He was experiencing speech delays. In fact, after a decent vocabulary, his words shrunk over some time. He made very little eye contact but we caught the signs early and we got him the support he needed.
“My initial reaction was fear. We all know how unkind and cruel the world can be. I have fears for my neurotypical daughter, much less Alex. But amidst this fear was relief – I liked knowing so (he) could get the tools needed. I do not do well with uncertainty, so that subconscious wonder as to what I was missing was very distressing. However, although I felt relief, I was over overwhelmed – I felt like there is so much to do, so much to learn. I felt inundated, I had to think about therapies, vetting therapists, finding tools for his support, possible schools and programmes.
“I am a mother amongst other things, but being an autism mother is my most fulfilling and challenging role to date – challenging in a good way as I have grown because of it. My son Alex is incredible – very playful, loving and intelligent. He loves machines and is fascinated with A/C units and lights. He loves his sister and she is so incredible with him.
"I get that the world works by labels but sometimes I feel it is a sign of ignorance. It is convenient to label people and put them in boxes so we can assume we know what they feel, think and what they believe. Sometimes it works and sometimes it just does not. When we place people in boxes (we) miss out on so many perspectives and experiences.”
As a working mother, her journey has not always been easy. Fortune said, “To say I had it easy would really diminish the journey thus far, but in comparison to some of the issues other special-needs parents undergo, I have been really blessed. My struggle comes from my fear for what the world will throw at him. I am not sure what type of society Alex will meet as a man. I just focus on pouring into him goodness and support. I also try to educate myself; having a kid on the spectrum in no way gives me all the answers and experiences, but I try to keep up. I am no more exhausted than the average mother or parent and I feel blessed.
[caption id="attachment_943282" align="alignnone" width="596"] Alex and his big sister Alexia. - courtesy Sataish Rampersad[/caption]
“Trials have always been therapies; the cost, logistics. Generally, Alex’s dad and I manage to get him the therapy he needs but I think of all the other parents who cannot afford therapies and how many kids are missing out. Another challenge is to balance work and being a mother. I rely on his dad and grandfather to dr
