Sadiq’s Story
One of my inspirations as a child was my uncle Andre. Andre was an individual with Autism, but he was raised during a time period in which services were not as presently available, and there was a stigma. Andre lived with my dad, during the early years of his adult life, and the bond they shared was magical. Andre lived life as it was supposed to be lived. He always had a smile on his face, love in his heart for his family and friends, and motivation to achieve what others told him he could not. Andre was developmentally delayed, non-verbal, and struggled with atypical behavior. However, when given great support from family and related services, he became self-sufficient, verbal, and maintained employment for over 30 years. Andre showed a young Sadiq that everyone can be successful given the right support, resources, and love. I carry this with me every day, as I approach every person and opportunity with the optimism that no matter the hardship during the journey, we will succeed in the end.
Associations
- BACB