Autism Progress: A Little Independence, A Lot of Hope - Finding Cooper's Voice

Sometimes progress shows up in the smallest, quietest moments. It doesn’t always look like milestones or big announcements. It looks like midnight snacks and Ritz crackers.

I heard her in the kitchen last night and assumed she was getting herself Goldfish. To my surprise and delight, when I walked into the kitchen, she was getting herself some Ritz cheese and crackers (she only eats the cheese inside, like an Oreo). She had gotten her own bowl and plate, and a spoon for her yogurt.

To most people, this is not a big deal, but in our world, it is everything.

I worry about my daughter on a level that is unexplainable. I worry about her future, about when I’m gone, and every single day it takes me to a very dark place. But seeing something so simple yet so huge brings me hope and joy.

My daughter is on the severe end of the autism spectrum, and that affects her in every single way. I don’t write much about her struggles anymore because I’ve shifted in how I tell our story. She is almost 16 now, and she does not want to be on camera anymore, and I need to respect that. So when I can sneak a picture here and there, I do.

But for the people in the trenches with young children, I promise it gets better. The struggles my daughter has now are day-to-day things, nothing like when she was younger.

Every day, she amazes me. Last night, I was opening something with a pair of scissors, and she reminded me they are “very sharp and to be careful.” In those moments, my whole heart is flooded with hope and pride.

These moments remind me that progress doesn’t stop, it just changes shape. We both keep learning, both keep growing. She teaches me every day how to find joy in what is, not what’s missing.

Keep teaching me, my girl.

On we go.

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