Some days all of us just need a dose of inspiration. I found this poem on a TikTok channel I started watching recently and thought I would share it with you. It is from the channel A Dose of Zman a day
I wouldn’t change you for the world, but I wish I could change the world for you
You aren’t any less, you just have a different thought process
And just see the world from a different point of view,
I want for you to be able to stim however much you wish
And although I can’t change the world’s entire opinion on autism,
I just want you to know this:
To never change who you are
Or feel the need to mask
To know I’m ever so proud of you
As I know things can be so overwhelming
Even if people see them as such a simple task
If the lights are too bright, the music is too loud,
You’re getting too anxious cause you’re in a big crowd
Some things I may not be able to change
But what I can, I promise to rearrange
Because I wouldn’t change you for the world, but I would change the world for you
Your autism doesn’t mean things that others achieve, you can’t do the same
And I’m so sorry that you get questioned for being yourself, you shouldn’t have to explain
Autism isn’t a shame, it is just a name to describe how your mind processes things
Autism doesn’t mean you won’t experience all the sights and things that I can bring
If the light is too bright and the light within dim,
you’re nervous, you’re excited, you go ahead and stim
Be who you are, not what you think others expect you to be
Be your authentic self, because it’s honestly such a beautiful sight to see
I wouldn’t change you for the world, but I would change the world for you
All I want is for you to be happy
@adoseofzmanaday Couldn’t have said it better.
♬ Autism poem - Zoe Cawley
Jordyn's Summer Shirt Project
One of my favourite TikTok channels is Jordyn's Summer Shirt Project. It is so uplifting and shows us all what is possible
Ben and Jackie Moore worried about what would happen with their autistic daughter, Jordyn, when she aged out of school because the opportunities for adults with disabilities are limited. They say: "In 2018 we shifted our focus from what was not available to creating something for her. In June 2018, Jordyn's Summer Shirt Project was created in our basement. We designed a shirt with the simple but powerful words: Be Kind to Everyone. Our goal was to sell 40 shirts to family and friends that summer with the purpose of teaching Jordyn job skills. What started as a summer project has now turned into a family business that Jordyn is thriving in."
@summershirtproject Jordyn’s growth over the last 4 years is amazing! Notice I used to even have to give her a cue. ❤️ #autism #apraxia ♬ original sound - Jordyn's Summer Shirt Project