the last word on april . . .

Posted on annePosted in Uncategorized

april has been autism awareness month, and though it is over, i hope that we all will continue to be a little more aware of autism and how it affects the families around us. to end the month, my friend mason, who is 9 years old, has written an essay about what it’s like to live with autism.

I am Mason Lee Jusi. I am Autistic. It doesn’t hurt or make you feel sick. It just makes it hard to do somethings. It makes me feel sad that there isn’t enough research being done. There are kids who can’t talk because of being Autistic. They deserve to have help. Someone to help them know why they can’t talk. I can talk but I used to not do it. My mother and father did alot to help me. I have some doctors that also help me alot. I sometimes don’t like it when they touch me but I sit on my hands when I have to be checked-up. It makes me feel burny inside sometimes when people touch my skin. When alot of things happen all at once in my house it makes my head feel like marbles are rolling around in it and it is to noisy for me to hear just one thing. It makes me mad then and sometimes I cry because it hurts my head.

My mother and father used to use these cards all the time to help me know what I was supposed to do. One had a smiley face for happy, when people make that face they are happy. One had a sad face for upset and a frowny face for mad. Sometimes I don’t know if people are sad or happy so I ask them and they tell me. I like jokes. I learned to tell them from a riddle book. Sometimes they are not funny. If you want to teach your child to tell jokes you should get them this book. I like to read and I am good at it. I like Math and Science to. I am good at them to.

Sometimes kids who have Autism do what is called Tics. I have tics that make me blink my eyes and clear my throat. It bothers me alot if I don’t do it, makes me feel itchy and crawly until I do. Sometimes it bugs my mother but she doesn’t say so.
I think kids who have tics feel bad sometimes. They feel bad because people stare at them. I don’t know why they are staring at them, it is not polite. I don’t like it when people stare at me, if they want to talk to me then they should instead of staring. If I say hi to them, sometimes they smile and talk to me. Sometimes they turn around or walk away.

It is hard to know what people want because they don’t say. I would like it if they just said it. I like things to be straight and in neat orders. It makes me feel bad if my stuff is not where I put it. I have to put it back that way. My sister messes it up sometimes.

If your kids have Autism you should take them to the doctors and they will check them up for you. The doctors are nice and they will help your parents know what to do. If your kids have Autism then they will still be smart. Autism doesn;t make you not smart. People should not be afraid of it. It doesn’t make them sick. I am going to be a famous scientist and I am going to fix Autism so that people won’t be afraid. I think that is why they stare. My mother said it is ok to be afraid but not ok to be mean and when people stare and get mad at kids with Autism then that is mean.

I am going to build a school for doctors to learn how to make it go away, then parents won’t be scared that their kids will have Autism. I will also build a Science lab so that doctors can learn how to make everyone not be sick to.

I’m done now. Please be nice to people if they have Autism. Well you should always be nice but if you know a kid who has Autism you should be his friend. You should not be afraid or anything because it isn’t going to be catchy for you. It just makes our brains think a little bit different thats all. If you write with your right hand and you sister writes with her left hand, which one is the right one. They both are right they are just different because you and your sister are different. My doctor told me that.
Thank you very much.

and thank YOU mason for a look into your world.

59 thoughts on “the last word on april . . .”

  2. Wow – what a great look into walking in another person’s shoes. Thank you Mason, and thank you Ann for sharing that with us! I can’t really describe it exactly, but Mason’s essay touched me deeply. Thank you SO much for sharing this

  3. As a teacher who deals with autistic and other parts of the disorder, it is frustrating for everyone involved: kids with autism, parents, teachers, other students. As an aunt of two little ones with PDD-NOS, a form of autism, it breaks your heart knowing that there is nothing you can do at times. Thank you, Mason, for the most articulate explanation of a baffling disease. I hope to read about your school for doctors when you complete it.

  6. Mason you are a wonderful and smart little boy! My son, Daniel is 10 and is autistic also. He can’t speak or write as well as you can, but he’s getting better everyday. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

  7. Hello Mason,

    Thank you so much for sharing your story. I knew somehting about autism, but hearing your story makes me understand it more better.

    Keep on keepin’ on, Mason, and be weill!

  10. Thank you for sharing your young friend’s essay. I work with 4 to 12 year olds and their teachers, and I’m always touched by their writing.

  12. My husband of 32 years suffered from Aspergers. He had lots of the same symptoms as Mason just spoke of. I am a very patient person and didn’t find out about Aspergers until a year before hub unit died at the age of 51. But, in that time, his mind was eased by knowing what was “wrong” with him all those years. And for me to know what was up with situations that had just baffled me for so long. Virtual hugs to Mason. Those won’t burn.

  13. Thank you Mason for sharing your story! I’m glad that you have parents and doctors who can understand and help you. I have been reading about Autism in my Psychology class, and I think that doctors have learned a lot in the past few years. I hope that means they will be able to fix it soon!

  14. Thank you so much for sharing this. It breaks and warms my heart at the same time.

    More virtual hugs for Mason! And also to his parents, who are clearly doing a fine job raising their son.

  16. I bet Mason isn’t too comfortable getting real hugs, but I’m guessing all these virtual ones are appreciated. That’s a very well-written piece from a very smart, courageous guy. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. 🙂

    You go, Mason!

  17. Well said, Mason! Anne, would you share with Mason that a lot of grownups share a great many of his feelings and thoughts? 😀

  18. Wow. Just wow.

    Thank you Mason for teaching me so much. I think that I will never be as smart as you.

  20. Very insightful essay Mason-thank you for sharing. I really learned a lot from you today. I don’t doubt that you will one day be a famous scientist making great contributions within the medical community. Anne, thanks for such an inspirational essay!!

  21. Thank you, Anne and Mason. My son Sam has autism, and while he can talk, he cannot communicate as well as you, Mason. Many times he is upset and can’t tell us why. That’s really frustrating for all of us, mostly Sam! I feel as though you have given me a little clue as to some of the ways he may be feeling. So thanks again!

  23. Thank you, Mason, for sharing your writing with us. I do hope that your dream of becoming a famous scientist who cures autism comes true. If enough bright minds like yours get together, I am sure it is possible. I hope you have a wonderful day.

  24. Mason~
    You sweet sweet boy. You have touched and taught us all something. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to share with us. You, sweetie, are my hero. One of my sons is autistic and we are in the process of getting him tested. You showed me so much. Thank you for that. I hope you have a wonderful day.

    Lauren

  25. Mason, thank you for your words! You are a sweet boy:) Autism CAN make life hard and you are doing a great job:)

    Meghann

  27. Please send thanks to Mason for his wonderfully written letter to all of us. … “Please be nice” : good words to live by for everyone.

  30. Mason,
    Although you have not built your doctor school yet you have already started the healing process by helping others understand.

    Thank you to both of you.

  31. MASON ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the way he describes the feelings he has when things make him uncomfortable. What an insightful man!!! He must have totally AWESOME parents!

  34. Thank you Anne, and Thank you Mason for sharing your wonderful thoughts with us. I’ve had the honor of working with Autistic Children for the past 6 years and I’m always amazed at how little we actually know. Mason has shared a wonderful part of himself with us!

  35. Mason,

    I used to babysit a little boy named Blake, who has autism he is now 9 years old and he isn’t able to talk yet, even tho me and him were really good friends and I knew him for 6 years I never really knew what it was like for him, or how he saw us, and the world…. Even tho you and blake are very different your essay has help me understand some of the things that blake might have felt… Thank you sooooo much for your well written essay, its very brave of you to share it with people….

    Brooklynne

  36. Thank you Anne for sharing this tender well written letter, and thank YOU Mason for letting us see a little of your world 🙂

  41. Thank you Mason,

    I work with children who have a lot of different kinds of disorders and help teach adults how to care for them. Your essay will help those adults understand a little about how children like you feel so they can help them and let others know that they are not alone.

    Thank you for being so brave.

  42. Hi, Mason. Thank you for telling me all about what it is like for you. Some people have mentioned to me about family members that have autism but I never understood what exactly that means. I am very glad to have read your essay as now I understand it completely and realize that it is NOT bad at all! I know of many people that have difficulties doing things and they are not autistic!

    I look forward to reading about you in science magazines in the future!

    Good luck to you and I wish you all the best, you handsome guy! 😀

  43. Mason, you are an excellent writer. You described things in such an imaginative way that I could understand so much better. Thanks for sharing!

  44. Thank you, Mason, for your excellent essay.

    Thank you, Anne, for using your forum for awareness of autism. I just saw “Snow Cake” a movie I wouldn’t have known about except for your list. I highly recommend it. Smart writing. Wonderful acting. Not at all a pious goody two shoes message movie–a really excellent movie about real people.

    Kathleen

  45. That’s an awesome letter. I really learned something from it. You express yourself very clearly.

    My son Luke has tics, and sometimes we play with them, where I copy Luke and make it something funny to do together. Luke likes to swing his arms around and do a goofy dance, so we smile at him and say “Hello Loopy-Luke!”

  46. Perhaps you’re something special BECAUSE you have autism!
    Thank you for your essay!
    Tanja

  47. Thank you for sharing Mason’s paper. I have a 7 year old daughter with Autism. This brought tears to my eyes. I wish that other people could see that these children are EXCEPTIONAL children. Thanks, Carol

  48. Thanks very much for publishing this wonderful essay. You have a very special friend in Manson. And he has one in you. Thanks for doing your part.

  49. Mason, Thank you so much for sharing your story with us and helping me to understand a little better what Autism is. You are a very wise young man; your mom and dad must be very proud of you 🙂

  50. For a 9-year-old, Mason sure has found a way to express himself! That was such an insightful, yet heartfelt essay. I know people in college who don’t spend so much time thinking about what to write.

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