This week I came across a beautiful and heart warming song written to raise Autism Awareness. Mother and daughter duo Viga and Victoria Boland titled the beautiful song “Don’t give up on me.” The lyrics will strike a chord with anyone who has a relative or friend with Autism, or perhaps another Communication disability.
The moving words eloquently explain how someone with Autism may struggle to handle and explain their emotions to their loved ones. Children and Adults with Autism often struggle to identify their feelings and to display these in an appropriate way. This is particularly difficult for those who have little or no verbal communication or lack an adequate alternative means to communicate their needs and feelings.
“It’s so hard for me to say I love you, when the words just don’t come out the way they should.”
Someone with Autism may display their emotions in an unconventional way. For example some children or adults with Autism may scream or cry when they are happy or excited or may lick or bite others as a sign of affection. The song identifies this struggle;
“Forgive me if I’m screaming, cause I’m desperate to show you who I really am, I just want to know you.”
The song also highlights the difficulties parents and family members may have when their child or relative has a ‘melt down,’ ‘tantrum,’ or ‘episode.’ These can often be particularly distressing for the person with Autism and those around him/her. It can be difficult to know how to respond in these situations primarily because what is helpful one day may not be helpful on other days.
“When those times you reach for me and I push you away, deep inside I just want you stay.”
Any relative of someone with Autism will understand the challenges of loving someone with Autism; the incredible highs and earth shattering lows. The lyrics highlight these challenges that people with Autism have in trying to behave: “I know you won’t believe me when I’m being so bad, but trying so hard to be good.”
The lyrics that I found the most beautiful and moving quoted the title “don’t give up on me.”
“Without you I can’t make it so don’t give up on me
There’s a whole lot of love inside the person you can’t see.”
This encompasses the reason why I am a Speech and Language Therapist. I am passionate about unlocking the potential within children and adults with Autism and enabling them to communicate effectively in order to met their needs but importantly to build meaningful relationship and to live fulfilling lives.
In the words of the song “don’t give up” on people with Autism. Let us continue to raise awareness and to provide support for the person, parents and family to help them unlock “the person inside you can’t see.”
You can listen to this beautiful song here.
Tip: Before listening be prepared for the goose pimples and perhaps have a tissue at the ready.
Lisa Franklin
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
