Special Needs

by James Tuttle

I met Sarah Palin at a book signing. I said, “Having autism, I really appreciate what you do as a special-needs mom.”

She said, “Thanks for the encouragement. How old are you?”

“Twenty-one,” I answered.

“How’s that going?” she asked.

“Great,” I answered as I walked off. ”I’m in school.”

The form of autism that I have is called Asperger’s Syndrome. It’s very mild. I’ll be able to get married and have a decent job. My social impairment is much milder than my obsessive interests. In some ways Asperger’s is a gift. It gives me a certain kind of intelligence. People with Asperger’s tend to have positive personality traits.

Throughout my life — even before I was diagnosed with Asperger’s — my parents played an important role in helping me to deal with it. Now that I have been diagnosed, my parents know more about the challenges I face. My mom has been helping me to figure out “dating,” and my dad helps me with issues related to jobs.

Many people with special needs face greater challenges than I do. Some of them will not be able to get married. Others will not be able to hold jobs. Does this mean that they cannot experience fulfilling lives? Does this mean that they are not valuable members of society?

I believe that God has a purpose for each person. God places people with special needs into the world for many reasons. One reason is to help families and society to become more caring. A child with a  mild disorder will cost parents extra time and money. A child with a severe disorder will cost a great deal of time and money. Spending resources on another person is not a burden but a privilege. Through taking care of a special-needs child, parents come to know more about God. They learn to see that each human life has intrinsic value. They learn that real love involves costly sacrifice.