No, I am not asking for help, but yes, I want to talk about help. I am a  person who does not like to ask for help. Three of the hardest words for me to say are , “I need help.” I am sure that all parents of children with disabilities hate to say those three little words. But we all need help. PJ will soon be 36 years old and I still need help. When he was born in 1975, I had reached a point in life where I thought I was through needing help. Boy, was I wrong.

Knowing that parents need help is the reason for starting the Pervis Jackson Jr. Autism Foundation. We want to help parents in need of help. So, now, here I am, a person who does not like to ask for help with a foundation that insures that I will be asking for help for a long time.  Autism has constantly pushed me out of my comfort zone.

But,  along the way, I have received a great Revelation!  I have discovered that some people want to help.  I have often found one of our scriptures  (Matthew 7:7) to be true. “Ask, and it shall be given unto you.”  Another scripture (James 4:2) says, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” Many times, when I have humbled myself  to ask for help, I have received it, but I still don’t like to ask.

If you know a parent struggling (it is a struggle) to raise a child with a disability, she (or he) probably needs help, even if they don’t ask for it. If you are one of the people who wants to help, I hope you will let them know. You don’t have to start a foundation to have “a spoonful of comfort.”  If you don’t know what else to do, why not pick up a copy of “Inspired By Autism?” It can be purchased on Amazon.com, at the Autism Collaborative Center at Eastern Michigan University (ACC-EMU), and at a few book stores. It will soon be available as an E-book.

Proceeds from the sales of “Inspired By Autism” are going into the Pervis Jackson Jr Autism Foundation (pjjraf.org). If you buy a book, not only will you be helping to give comfort to a parent, you will be helping  to support the foundation. (I know I said that I would not be asking for help). Sorry.  But I’ve gotten great feedback from parents who have read the book.

I want to do all that I can to help children with disabilities. You can help me to help them. I’ve heard so many sad stories down through the years that it is a blessing to say. “How can I help you?” instead of,  “How can you help me?”  I’ve had some blessings that many other parents haven’t had so I would like to pass them along. God blesses us so that we may bless others.

Blessings to all parents, whether your child has autism or not.

Until next time; May Peace and Love surround you.

Claudreen Jackson