Most of us are in the habit of making snap judgments about others with very little information. It’s a shortcut our brains frequently use to conserve energy. But what we often miss when we do so is the acknowledgement and recognition of the humanity of the person standing before us. Autism Spectrum Disorder is, on one level, an opportunity to look deeper; to admit that our understanding is severely limited by our own perceptions and biases; and an appeal to be our most compassionate selves with those who may be different from us. Aside from being a wealth of information on ASD, Taleen is unflinchingly honest and vulnerable in sharing her experiences as a parent of a child with Autism.

You can reach the Armenian Autism Outreach Project at www.armenianautism.org