• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Geek Club Books

Autism Education, Awareness, Acceptance, Advocacy

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About
    • Autism Storytelling for Hope and Change
    • Speaking
    • Creative Team & Educational Specialists
    • Advisory Board
    • Our Benefactors
    • Press
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
  • Blog
    • All Articles and Interviews
    • Articles By Author
  • Families
    • Welcome Autism Families!
    • Autism Resources Bundle!
    • Freebies
    • Mighty League Autism Moms
  • Educators
    • Welcome Educators!
    • Autism EDU
    • Bluebee TeeVee, Autism Information Station
    • School Visits
  • Comics
    • Autism Comics Overview
    • Autism in Real Life Comic
    • Autism Spectrum Comic
    • End Awareness Comic
    • Understanding Autism Comic
    • Mighty League 1: Autistic Hero Comic
    • Mighty League 2: Autistic Hero Comic Book
  • Resources
    • How to Find Resources
    • Asking Autistics
    • Autistic Self-care
    • Amazon Autism Book Shop
    • What is Autism?
    • Books By Autistic Authors
    • What is Autism Awareness?
    • Autism Glossary
    • Autism Myths
    • Autistic or Person with Autism?
    • Speech and Language
    • Autism Business Ideas
  • Zoom Magazine
    • Issue 18: The Black Autistic Experience
    • Issue 17: Health
    • Issue 16: Travel
    • Issue 15: Powerful Women
    • Issue 14: Trailblazers
    • Issue 13: Family
  • Take Action
    • How to Advocate for Autism
      • #Activate4Autism
      • Activator Heroes
    • Make a Difference
  • Contact
  • Donate

Super Powers? Moms Beat Superheroes Every Time

September 4, 2014 By Jodi Murphy 4 Comments

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on PinterestShare on LinkedInShare on RedditShare on WhatsApp

balloons
It may not seem like it, but we’ve come so far in being able to identify and diagnose someone on the autism spectrum. Even though Aspergers Syndrome was classified in 1944 by pediatrician Hans Asperger, no medical professional or therapist ever mentioned or discussed it as a possible explanation for my son’s developmental and social issues.

I knew at two that something was amiss and even suspected that Jonathan was autistic but the professionals were adamant that he couldn’t be because he was high functioning. But we moms, KNOW our children and when he was medically diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at age 13, I was already doing what needed to be done to help him grow to reach his best potential.

He’s an adult now and I’m still (and will always be) vigilant about his well-being. I have taken on many roles as his guardian angel and life coach, using super powers I never thought I had and doing things I never thought I could do.

Relentless Salesperson

Winston Churchill said, “Never, never, never give up.” I don’t and I never will. I’m not an aggressive or very outgoing person, but when it comes to Jonathan and his needs, I won’t take “no” for an answer. Like the time I found the fully-booked, highly-recommended occupational therapist and after she said “sorry not possible,” I convinced her to take on “just one more client.”

Corporate CEO

The good news is that Jonathan is high functioning, and the bad news is that he’s high functioning. What I mean by this is that he often falls through the cracks when it comes to getting access to services and interventions that can aid him in his growth and development. In Northern California, where we live, Aspergers Syndrome isn’t a diagnosis that allows him to become a client of The Golden Gate Regional Center, and if he isn’t a GGRC client, then that limits the services available to him. Why? Because most of the organizations are paid by the state through GGRC and aren’t set up administratively for private paying clientele.

When Jonathan became a teenager, I knew I had to find someone who could help me deal with his emotional development, because I could sense that all he was hearing from me was “blah, blah, blah.” And as parents, we learned long before that Jonathan was just too sensitive to any constructive criticism from his father, so my husband always tries to keep things light and positive.

I found the perfect solution in an organization that offered life skills counseling…the only problem was that they didn’t take on private clients because they got paid through GGRC.

So I put on my virtual corporate business suit and was determined to make my son their latest client acquisition! I prepared a two-page, succinct, benefit-oriented executive level summary to convince them that they were the only ones who could help (which was the truth). What did I have to lose?

Two weeks later I got a call from the director saying that they, indeed, wanted to work with Jonathan and figured out a way for us to pay them directly. It was life-changing, still is, and Jonathan’s been benefitting from their services for the last 8 years.

Foot Soldier

Jonathan seems to go through phases where he has tremendous growth, reaches a plateau, stays there for awhile, and then starts to struggle socially and developmentally. With no crystal ball or prognosticative abilities, I find that I must have my eyes and ears constantly “on the ground’ to clear his path and scout for supportive individuals and organizations that can join the ranks when called to duty.

Pioneer Woman

I often picture myself as one of the early pioneer women blazing a trail into the unknown to create a better life for their families. I summon their courage, strength and fortitude as I help my son and his drive to be fully independent.

Citizen of Oz

Dorothy, Lion, Tin Man, Scarecrow and Wizard of Oz—I’m a combination of these characters using all my powers, influences, creativity, fast-thinking, courage, and heart to help my son thrive. Today, my focus is on innovating opportunities for Jonathan to earn a sustainable income. I’m counting on my OZian personas to pave his yellow brick road. I’m not trying to make it easy or challenge free, even Dorothy had to conquer the Wicked Witch, no, I’m just trying to make sure he has the same access to Oz as anybody else.

Who Will I Be Tomorrow?

Sherlock Holmes? General Patton? Wonder Woman? I’ll be whomever I’m called on to be. The only thing I know for sure, is that I am and always will be Jonathan’s mom.

If you liked this post, you may also like:

  • Mighty League Autism Moms
  • Autimism Hope Quotes
  • Autism Optimism: Second E-Book of Autimisms
Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on PinterestShare on LinkedInShare on RedditShare on WhatsApp

Filed Under: Blog Haps, Our Personal Autism Journey Tagged With: autism empowerment, Jodi Murphy, spectrum parenting

About Jodi Murphy

Jodi Murphy is the founder of Geek Club Books, a registered nonprofit committed to creating a world where autistic individuals are fully accepted, valued and have a voice. Her priority is bringing autistic individuals creative and leadership opportunities that are meaningful, empowering and support their advocacy. She works with a creative autistic team to produce pop culture-based autism awareness education that is innovative, engaging, positive and opens hearts and minds to a new way of thinking about autism. Sign up for Geek Club Books mailing list for free apps, resource guides, curriculum, audio stories and more: https://geekclubbooks.com/autism-bundle.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tiffany Hoskinson says

    September 4, 2014 at 9:59 am

    Hi! I LOVE this! I am currently advocating as fiercely as I am able for my sons- it is a battle against dereliction and repugnancy! I intend on printing your top graphic (with the balloons) for my motivation at an IEP on Wednesday. I shared this article on FB and a friend of mine with a daughter on the spectrum commented that she loved this article. I know the graphic was made specific to this article and the author is a mother of a son that needs advocacy, but I wonder if you could make a second graphic for the mothers out there with girls that also would love to have “I will be what she needs me to be” be their battle cry. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jodi Murphy says

      September 4, 2014 at 10:37 am

      Thank you Tiffany! I created a version at the end of the post using the feminine pronoun. Feel free to use and share! Channel your “Katniss Everdeen” for your upcoming battle. We are with you in spirit!

      Reply
  2. Gary Jesch says

    September 15, 2014 at 12:53 pm

    Hi Jodi, I just discovered your blog and admire your posts. This one is especially good, I think, because it is the voice of all the mothers out there who are raising kids with special needs.

    I too am blazing trail, introducing my live animation technology to help families with children on the spectrum. Perhaps I could connect with you somehow (LinkedIn?) so we could run some ideas past you? We’re near northern California in the Lake Tahoe area.

    Hang in there and know you are supported, even when it must seem like that’s not really true.

    Reply
    • Jodi Murphy says

      September 16, 2014 at 1:52 pm

      Thank you so much Gary! Yes I will connect with you on LinkedIn fellow trailblazer!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Join Our Neurodiverse Community:

Read Our Current Issue:

Search

Latest

  • My Soul is a Garden I’m Learning How to Properly Tend
  • How to Increase Your Resilience while Autistic
  • #AskingAutistics: How Do You Feel About the Puzzle Piece Symbol?
  • Why It’s So Important to Remain Open to Joy
  • Why Do People Think I Should Be Sad and Sorry about Autism?

Topics

  • 501c3 Mission (8)
  • Anxiety (8)
  • App & Product Reviews (12)
  • Autimisms (29)
  • Autism Acceptance (13)
  • Autism at Work (9)
  • Autism Entrepreneurs (17)
  • Autism Resources (6)
  • Blog Haps (550)
  • Buzz (6)
  • Classroom (15)
  • Curious Interviews (118)
  • Day in the Life (9)
  • Dorktales (4)
  • Impactful Blogs (9)
  • Labels (4)
  • Love (5)
  • Mighty League (31)
  • Neurodiversity (2)
  • Our Personal Autism Journey (28)
  • Penfriend Project Autism Columns (228)
    • Adriana's Awesome Autistic Book Lists (3)
    • Aspierations (16)
    • Autism Insider (78)
    • Autistic Speaks (27)
    • Being Brave (28)
    • Chloe Rothschild (3)
    • Fidgets and Fries (3)
    • Happy Aspie (9)
    • My Shaynanigans (8)
    • Neurodivergent Rebel (23)
    • Positively Autistic (18)
    • Proud Autistic Living (6)
    • Tud Sense (5)
  • Pop Culture (8)
  • Safety (8)
  • Self-Care (7)
  • Self-Esteem (3)
  • Self-Improvement (10)
  • Sensory Needs (10)
  • Social Skills (4)
  • Speech and Language (6)
  • Tell Us Your Story (29)
  • Zoom Autism (64)

Footer

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 Geek Club Books

To improve your experience on our site we may use cookies. Find out more.