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Considering a Son's Future with Aspergers and an Additional Disability

Submitted by Landon Bryce on Sat, 06/23/2012 - 09:47
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Tony Matero considers what the future will be like for his son Anthony, who has both Asperger's syndrome and hearing impairment:

When you have a child with a disability and you are facing adulthood with him, it is different than just pushing him out of the nest. Instead of visualizing being in a tall oak tree and watching the little one sputter a bit and then start with a Woodstock-like flight pattern before gaining confidence and speed, I see a huge chasm.

What I see scares me. I don't scare easily. I see a world that still does not accept mental disabilities. I see an enormously smart young man who may never hold a "real" job because short-sighted bosses don't know how to deal with people "like" him.

I don't "like" everything that Matero has to say, just like I know lots of parents don't like everything said here, but all of it is "real," and I appreciate that.