An alternative autistic graduation narrative

Here’s an alternative to the narrative we keep hearing about.

My son was not the valedictorian of Drexel University.

He did not stand at a podium and output a speech.

He did not win a single prize.

He did not graduate with honors.

It took him 7 years to graduate.

He got zero media coverage.

He does not have a $90,000 grant from the Soros Foundation to get an advanced degree at a prestigious school, and his next steps remain unclear.

BUT

This child of mine, who has been consistently diagnosed as moderately autistic (not mild), and who the experts, assessing him at age 4, told us that, despite “glimmers” of intelligence, was best suited to life skills classes, managed to graduate college with a double degree in math and computer science.

And no one held up a keyboard, touched his body, or otherwise hovered next to him within cueing range while he did his work.