They don't know what to do with someone who doesn't fit neatly in their defined boxes. David, like many people with Autism, does not understand nuances or social norms / mores, so he needs strict rules to behave / engage appropriately in "the real world." David's Autism has also self-dictated rules, like taking the umbrella with him: he needs that in order to leave the house.Ĭatherine's social life is understandably limited, and those with both Typical and Disabled children will understand this, at least here in N America (where I am raising my children): people are uncomfortable with differences.
It appears to me that David's Autism is high-functioning, although he seems to have some significant perseveration tics. It is the story of twelve year-old Catherine, a neurotypical girl whose younger brother, eight year-old David, has Autism. So reading "Rules" was an emotional experience for him.
He's a young boy himself and he is allowed to be embarrassed by someone so markedly different, who whoops or cries or screams, who likes to bang his open palm on glass. I was so proud of him for knowing he could tell me this and face no recrimination. He exhibits "inappropriate" behaviors because he is a baby in an ambulatory big boy's body.Ī few years ago our eldest son came to me and said that sometimes when we're out, either as a whole family or just the children and me, that he is embarrassed by his younger brother. He cannot feed himself, is in a diaper and does not appear to realize when he is either wet or soiled.
This incandescent child of mine cannot speak / sign, cannot understand speech / sign - this is called global aphasia. A sweet, innocent, pure, affectionate baby who has not realized there is a world beyond himself and his wants. His younger brother (our youngest son) is profoundly developmentally disabled: he's nearly eight years-old, appropriately sized, but cognitively, developmentally he is a baby. My nearly ten year-old smarty pants son read this early in the book, he set it down and turned to me, saying "you know how sometimes when you read a book and someone dies you really feel sad and need to take a break 'cause it's hard to keep going?" I replied "don't forget - I'm the person who cried during the opening scene of 'Hachi' and never stopped!" He laughed and said "oh yeah."
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