I am glad there is an awareness day for Autism. I have it on my calendar.

I think the truth is that none of us are concerned till it touches our lives in some way. There is no charm to any disorder. There has always been a multitude of semi-treatable conditions prevailing at any given point in history. Be its scarlet fever, chicken pox, leprosy, depression  ... Medicine makes its strides, and we have conquer a few. Only to be more aware of newer conditions.  The battle continues. The world's poorer regions as well as the developed nations fight off their own list of plagues.

So, why should I have more than a casual cognizance of the status that science has achieved?

Because it touches my life.

I came across autism 6 years ago in an 8 year old son of a friend. Today he is 14. And I am not sure if I am concerned about him more than the concern that I have for his immediate family. I see the impact it has had to his immediate and his extended family. His progress and struggles decide the tone of those around him. He's a sweet child; it is so easy to shrug of the condition since it is not so pronounced. Yet we cannot shrug it off. If he's cheerful and happy, everyone's fine, doing their own stuff. A little shift, and there is tension in the air. He throws a tantrum, and everyone's attention is on alert.

This used to be a typical scene whenever we visited his home:

We walk in, greet everyone around. Say Hi to him. His response varies. We get into conversation with the others. Realize that his Mom is with him, away in his room. He is still upstairs when we leave. The only two people who could 'handle' him were his parents.

At that point, Autism bothered me a bit. But not enough to learn more. The questions that I had were all asked and answered in the course of the visit. His ability to observe details that all of us missed were admirable, and his repetitiveness and his resistance to some tasks were, well, politely annoying that we’d shrug easily.

Then he lost his Dad.

I know for sure, that has been a turning point in several lives. It’s been a heart wrenching ordeal to standby the family cope with the loss. My husband and I will always miss him.

The situation has become stark now. As part of his family's wide friend's circle, I am more actually concerned now. Since I see his Mom's day to day struggles as well his grand parents. So, I scourge the internet to all available reading on the subject. It is selfish I know, but Iam eternally grateful that his condition is not severe.

I am driven to be more aware of Autism now. Developmental disorder seems to a completely elusive beast. In the sense it so subjective and unique. Mercifully there are quantitative studies and persistent research going on. Reading them gives me a sense of hope and relief.

Stories such as the firefighter who dressed up as Spiderman to cajole the autistic kid are such positive snippets.

It is important to be educated on this issue, just as important it is to constanly remind those who come in touch with him. To slow down, and listen. To iniate and not react. With the speed at which we aim to live our lives, it is so challenging to pace slow. Until it is compulsive. That is so frustrating.

I just wish it would be sooner.