By: Alix Fequiere
Celebrating World Autism Awareness Day 2025.
As a father of two incredible autistic boys, ages 16 and 9, today holds special meaning in our family. Each day, I am equally challenged and inspired by their unique ways of interacting with the world.
Having autism is commonly referred to as being “on the spectrum” and where each individual lands on the spectrum is what determines how they are. What makes my family dynamic so interesting is that my two boys could not have landed any further apart from each other on the spectrum. One is the Yin to the other’s Yang. When one is sweet, the other is sour. When one gets turned off, the other gets turned up. All the paternal skills I’ve acquired for the 16-year-old rarely translate over when it comes to parenting the 9-year-old. It’s an extreme example of “one size does not fit all” when it comes to parenting. I continue to learn!
While their journeys are filled with challenges, they also overflow with moments of pure joy, growth, and love. To my fellow parents, caregivers, family, friends, teachers, doctors, therapists, social workers, and even emotional support animals – thank you so much for your support, your strength, your resilience, and your unwavering love. Let’s continue to embrace neurodiversity and celebrate the brilliance of every mind.