For Fitz & Friends

Busy Sensory Seeking⚡️

For Fitz’s 4th birthday we went to jump with a few of our friends and family! We opted out of a party room with cake and ice cream and opening gifts. Fitz’s comfortability comes first, which means we just do things differently. Singing happy birthday at home with close family, opening gifts in the car on the way home, not eating cake and ice cream because that’s not what he’s in the mood for lol. And these things are all completely okay, he teaches us to open our minds to a new way of living; where molds can be broken and beauty is found in all the simple things. So, for his 4th birthday, we celebrated The Fitz Way, which is non-stop jumping for hours. lol

Birthday celebrations don’t have to look a certain way. They are about celebrating; celebrating a specific someone being born, the victories they’ve accomplished in the past year, the achievements they’ve made, the growth that’s taken place. In my eyes, if it’s your birthday, you should be able to celebrate by doing what makes you the happiest! And for Fitz, that’s simply just jumping! 🥰

PLEASE stop staring at my autistic child during a public meltdown.

We see you staring. We know you’re thinking- “I would never let my child act like that”, “they need to control him”, etc.

PLEASE understand that he may be overstimulated, he can’t express his wants, needs, or feelings. How would you feel & react if you were in his shoes?

PLEASE keep your eyes that are expressing your ignorant thoughts, to yourself!

Something to also keep in mind- autism doesn’t have a “look”, you don’t know who is autistic and who isn’t. Mind your business and mind your own children or open your hearts and minds. It’s quite simple.

Today is National Non-Speaking / Non-Verbal Awareness Day 💛

This is your friendly reminder that just because someone doesn’t speak to you, doesn’t mean they can’t understand you. Just because they don’t participate in eye contact doesn’t mean they aren’t listening. Just because verbal words aren’t present DOES NOT mean they are any less deserving of communication and conversations.

Spoken words are NOT the only form of communication! 🤟🏽

🫶🏼INCLUSION🫶🏼

The most beautiful form of friendship.
Inclusion should have no bounds, no limitations.

•Inclusion is teaching your children that if someone plays differently, it’s okay, you adapt together.
•Inclusion is inviting others to places, parties, and events even when you know they may not be able to make it, or need to leave early due to sensory overloads.
•Inclusion is understanding that verbal communication is not the only form of communication, and everyone deserves to communicate with eachother.
Nonverbal/nonspeaking ≠ nonunderstanding.

Teach your children to include others, because at the very least, we all deserve to be included. 🧡

Everyone deserves to experience Camp UP!!! Best camp in all of Louisiana, and no that’s not my opinion- it’s fact! 🤭🫶🏼

This 'one of a kind' inclusive camp for children is expanding in the Baton Rouge region Camp United recently started the process of building its permanent accessible year-round camp location after years of rotating through places in Livingston Parish.

You’re saving up for your children to go to college; we’re saving up for our children to have someone to care for them when we pass. We are not the same.

When people find out that Fitz is autistic, a lot of times they feel the need to try to relate Fitz to other autistic people. “Oh, well, I know someone who’s autistic and he went to college and has a job now.”

While that’s beautiful to hear, it’s not the reality for every autistic person. Fitz is doing everything he can to learn and grow, and we’re doing everything we can to support him.

It’s good to be hopeful, but not so hopeful that you ignore reality. Hope can be extremely powerful if balanced with realism and preparation. I am hopeful that Fitz will live a life where all his dreams come true. One day, when he’s finally able to communicate those dreams, we’ll do anything and everything to help achieve them.

His journey won’t be the same as the person next to him, just like your journey isn’t the same as the person next to you.