Seeing world through autistic son’s eyes
D: “Alex has what’s called pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified. It’s a type of autism.”
K: “He’s considered intellectually disabled as well. He functions like a wonderful, beautiful child with all the funny things. He’s like a 4-year-old with the hormones of a 29-year-old. So he likes pretty girls. He wants to drive the car. And he came in one day and said, ‘Dad, you are now a baby father. I’m the boss man now.’ He’s so sweet. He loves everybody. I mean, if we were all like Alex, there would be world peace.”
D: “He’s had a stuffed doll since he was a little, bitty guy. Her name is Loonette the clown, and she does everything Alex does. He carries her around and uses her to kind of communicate with people. He goes wandering off, and he talks to everybody. He’s just very open. One time we were standing in line at Astroworld for the roller coaster, and he walked up and down the line with his doll saying hi to all these pretty girls. I was getting frustrated because he wasn’t standing there and being quiet. But I prayed, I wish I could see the world through Alex’s eyes. I wish I could be as open as he is. He was just kind of having a great time interacting with people. And I thought, I wish I could do that. Then I blinked my eyes, opened them up, and all of a sudden there was this 180-degree change. I wasn’t looking through my eyes anymore. I was looking at the world through Alex’s eyes. And what I saw was this wonderful place. I’ve learned an awful lot about life from Alex.”
— David Whitcomb and Kathleen Sydnor (with Alex)
Alex attends school at Avondale House, and he lives in one of its group homes in Houston.
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