As many of you know we are currently running a series of blog posts on Autism and Parenting. While not formally part of this series we are delighted to share this guest post from O R Pagan on the book he wrote a short story from the perspective of a father of a young man with autism.

Oné Pagán writes “People wear many “hats” during their lifetimes. The main hats that I wear in my life right now are husband, father, scientist, and professor. My role in life as a father is an important factor that inspired me to write this story. Autism is another factor. I suspect that I do not have to tell you what autism is. At any rate, there is more than enough information available so I will not talk to you about it.

Rather, in this short story I am trying to express my feelings as the father of a young man with autism and how far I would go to make sure that he is taken care of when I am not around.

Like any parent, I want to see my children happy, with lives of their own. Sadly, when you have a child with a disability, this dream of independence is oftentimes not an option. A virtually universal worry of any parent of such a child is what is going to happen when we are no longer able to take care of them. What would be of my child? Will others treat him well? Will he be safe and respected? Quite frankly, these questions terrify me and oftentimes keep me awake at night.
The main character in this story lives in a point in time when he has the means and the technology to make sure that his child is protected throughout his whole life. A dad can dream, right?

I, for one, would do what my protagonist did in a split second.

Would you? How far would you go to take care of your precious child?”

You can buy the story on Amazon here.

You can check out Oné Pagán’s blog here for more background on his life and scientific work at the, rather splendidly named, Bald Scientist Blog.