(Credit: Ryan Weiss)
"That day reminded me to see the world a little more the way Bastian does, and to challenge myself and others to lower limitations, not expectations"
As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, I’ve come to realize that much of what is generally accepted about autism revolves around textbook expectations and compliance, not the individual.
It’s easy, as a parent, to get caught up in the layers of services, therapy, appointments, medications, and support plans. This letter is a personal reminder, to myself and to others, especially during Autism Awareness Month, that those layers do not and should not define our children.
What matters most are their strengths, their interests, and their ability to experience and move through the world in their own way.
This anecdote is on my son, Bastian. He is autistic. On my days off and weekends, we spend a lot of time together, often exploring something he loves: trains.
For as long as I can remember, Bastian has been fascinated by SEPTA and rail systems in general. We regularly ride the Lansdale/Doylestown Line, not just for fun, but as a way for him to build real-world skills. He is learning how to navigate public transit, recognize landmarks, use the SEPTA app to track trains, identify them by number and car count, and understand how station names appear on an itinerary.
On Saturday, April 11th, we did something new.
Bastian also loves bridges, and the Ben Franklin Bridge is his favorite. That day, we took the train to Jefferson Station, walked to Penn’s Landing, and then took a ride to the start of the pedestrian walkway on the Philadelphia side. From there, we walked the entire length of the Ben Franklin Bridge to Camden.
Afterward, we made our way back by using a familiar landmark, the large spinning guitar at the Hard Rock Cafe, to orient ourselves. We caught our train at Jefferson Station and returned home to Lansdale.
I am sharing this as a reminder to myself and to other North Penn families that our children are capable of far more than we sometimes imagine. That day, Bastian showed incredible spontaneity and kindness by striking up conversations with people we passed along the way.
By nature, I am a planner. I like structure and predictability. Bastian, while he appreciates a plan, thrives in moments of spontaneity when given the opportunity.
That day, I had planned a simple trip. We would go to Jefferson Station, stop at Reading Terminal Market for a donut, and then return home. Bastian had a different idea. We opened Google Maps, got our bearings, and he led the way, first to Penn’s Landing and then across the bridge.
Bastian’s kindness knows no bounds. His drive, determination, heart, and sense of humor are just as limitless.
As parents, it is easy to get consumed by the layers of support systems, including paperwork, meetings, IEPs and 504 plans, SDIs, goals, accommodations, and therapy appointments. While all of these are important, they can sometimes make it harder to see beyond the structure.
Our children are capable, competent, and determined.
That day reminded me to see the world a little more the way Bastian does, and to challenge myself and others to lower limitations, not expectations.
Ryan Weiss
Hatfield
(This letter is a printed submission expressing the views and thoughts of the named writer. An op-ed is not the viewpoint nor stance of Fideri News Network nor its affiliate websites. The letter is an opinion-based submission which contains statements intended only to share the thoughts of its author and is not a fact-checked news article.)
