Hi everyone, this is my sweet boy Ian. He’s my seven-year-old son and is on the Autism Spectrum. He may appear normal to everyone but in reality, just like all children with Autism, he’s different. You will run into us at a Target or at any mall in the Dallas Metroplex on any given weekend. Today at a local mall, a gentleman decided to record my son saying, “look, a n***a on a leash!” You don’t think we heard you but we did. Rather than than confront you and potentially make a scene, I thought it best to use this as an educational opportunity. To you, sir, it is not leash but instead it is a child harness. My hope was that the printed colored puzzle pieces on the harness would alert you that he is not just any boy on a harness but a boy with Autism. You may or may not know this but children with Autism are at risk for eloping. What is Eloping you might ask? It is an all too common problem among children with Austim that has been on the radar of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for years. It’s described as the urge to leave protected and safe surroundings without notifying anyone. It’s also known as wandering, running, or bolting. I pray you are blessed with a child that does not have to depend on a harness like we do. My husband and I don’t desire to use the harness but it is the only way we feel safe with our sweet boy in public, crowded places.

So to you, sir (and his female companion), I hope this post finds you. If your intention was to record my son and circulate his video on social media for a few “likes”, I forgive you. You probably weren’t informed about something that clearly needs to be made more aware of in the media. On the contrary, I thank you for giving this mom the courage to be an advocate for her son and those who have children with Autism. Our sweet Ian exudes nothing but unconditional love without any judgment to anyone and we can all learn a few things from him.