The Autism Life- scenes from the Katie Couric #katieautismchat

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 21m

#katieautismchat Here is my story in more than 140 characters: http://seanmacnair.blogspot.com/2013/04/autism-awareness-guide-for-perplexed.html …

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 21m

#katieautismchat My wife and I are outsiders. We have no social life. No one is prepared to deal with a 13-year-old in diapers.

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 20m

#katieautismchat My daughter started her period recently. She is 10, nonverbal, not potty trained. How do we explain this to her?

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 19m

#katieautismchat My son engages in self-injurious and aggressive behavior. We don't know why. I wish I knew why I got beat up every night.

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 18m

#katieautismchat We are faced with thousands of dollars in house repairs due to my son putting his head through walls and pooping on the rug

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 17m

#katieautismchat The churches in our area are just not prepared. Maybe one in the whole county. I stay home.

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 16m

#katieautismchat This is the reality of a lot of families, Katie. My kids are not going to be Temple Grandin or Rain Man.

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 16m

#katieautismchat I will never hear them speak, never see them go to college, never see them get married. My future has been pre-determined.

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 15m

#katieautismchat My son makes odd noises in the store, people stare, I want to smack them. I love my children. They are NOT freaks.

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 15m

#katieautismchat The antidepressant industry loves us. I take three, my wife takes six. This is very difficult. Very difficult.

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 15m

#katieautismchat At this point I don't care what causes it. The fact is, they have it. I have to move on from there.

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 14m

#katieautismchat I don't care about Autism Awareness Day. I live Autism Awareness Life. Instead of buying a blue shirt, someone just call me

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 12m

#katieautismchat I may not be able to attend social functions; probably not. But invite me anyway. To be ignored hurts like hell.

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 12m

#katieautismchat Yes, I am a man who hurts, I am a man who weeps, I am often a man in despair. I don't care about stereotyped gender roles.

 

Sean MacNair ‏@y2daddy 11m

#katieautismchat This is real life. Thanks for hearing me, Katie.