This week has been another busy one for us here at Awesome Archie. We have launched our world book day competition (there will be a detailed post nearer the time), written a “neuro-inclusivity in the leisure and entertainment industry” guide and customised our very own Awesome Archie wheelchair.
The wheelchair prompted me to create a presentation to explain why, occasionally, Archie needs the use of a wheelchair. Unbelievably, we still face the odd comment which, from the asker (who often isn’t intending to be hurtful or offensive), can negatively impact us as a neurodivergent family. Questions or statements like…
- Archie doesn’t need a wheelchair, his legs are fine!
- He’s ONLY autistic, why does he need that? (That one really gets my blood boiling!)
- Just make him walk, he’ll get used to it.
- You spoil that boy (actually, I do… and I don’t care 😉 )
- They are just using that to get attention!
And YES, these are all genuine quotes! 🥱
The irony about that last one (which does make us giggle actually) is that our darling Archie, being autistic, having ADHD and tourette syndrome, draws more than enough unwanted attention to himself, we don’t need any help from a chair in that respect!
So, we thought we’d create a bit of “Autism and wheelchair use” content and we have been so surprised by the messages of thanks we’ve had. From parents that have had to defend their child’s needs to close family members (who just wont accept) and from those who thought that, even though their child would benefit from a chair, didn’t feel it would be “ok” as “people would judge.”
We are here to say “LET THEM!!”. You do WHATEVER is right for your child because they are all that matter.
The presentation is on our YouTube channel but here are all of the individual slides for you to use as you wish and remember the saying “LET THEM!”.
