The post where I complain.

I try not to let my life become consumed by advocating for my son, but sometimes it just is.  My friends without children, or my friends with typically developing children often have a hard time understanding this.  I've been accused of being too sensitive or wanting to fight when that is the opposite of what I truly want.  I would LOVE to be able to have my son leave for school every morning and not have to think about whether or not he's learning, if the school's expectations are too high or too low.  I would love to not have to think about whether I'm getting a call from the school today or if his bus driver is going to threaten to kick him off the bus again.  For years, I thought that once he started school I could go back to work, but it hasn't ended up that way.  No job is going to work around the therapy sessions, the meetings, being called to leave on a moment's notice to pick up my child because they can't handle him anymore.  I can't find a job that I can commit to the way that I want to because my first priority is making sure that my son is getting the services and education that he is entitled to.  Not the things I think he should have, or that he deserves.  I'm talking about the basic education and services he is entitled to by the law.  What your typically developing child is just given is something that I have to fight for.   Every.   Single.  Day. 
It's tiring, and I feel like I'm always burned out.  Sometimes, I feel that if I read one more article about autism or have to fight one more fight, I won't be able to take it anymore.  But I do it.  I have to because no one else is going to make sure that my son succeeds and reaches his full potential. 
While I love the social thinking curriculum at his school, I feel like they neglect academics in order to focus on social skills.  I definitely agree that social thinking is something that is benefiting my child.  However, the low academic expectations of an incredibly bright and intelligent child is unacceptable to me.  It's basically like they are teaching him life skills only with a little bit of academics when I KNOW that my son has abilities beyond that.  Life skills are important for kids like mine, but he can do SO MUCH MORE.   The school district does not care about that as much as making him "manageable". 
Don't even get me started on the complete and total lack of inclusion with typical children in his school. 
On top of that, I have to deal with professionals talking down to me and treating every rational request that I have as an undue burden while they try to coerce me into medicating my son to make his behavior less challenging.   They operate on the assumption that I don't know my son's rights.  But I do and I'm tired of having to FIGHT for them. 
Now, with all of this complaining about my son's treatment by the school district, notice that I've never once complained about my child or about autism.  My child is amazing.  My child is perfect exactly how he was born to be.  I hate that I have to fight to make other people see his potential and appreciate the different ways in which he learns and can thrive.  It is just beyond frustrating to be blessed with such an amazing child who is constantly devalued and pushed to the margins by an incredibly intolerant society.   He works so hard every day to understand us, but asking other people to just try and understand him is always  met with opposition.   Perhaps some of the social thinking that my son is learning could benefit neurotypical people as well.   A little empathy and understanding go a long way on both sides, you know.