Day Two | 9km down 61km to go!
Today, Moses joined me for a few kilometres, although judging by the state of him, I think he thought we were training for a swimming event rather than Run for Autism. 😂
But as I walk, I’ve been thinking a lot about why I’m doing this.
Every step, I think about how hard life can sometimes feel for those of us standing on the sidelines, as parents, siblings, families, teachers, therapists and supporters.
But then I think about how much harder it must be for the person actually living it.
To experience the world differently.
To have sounds, demands, transitions, expectations or environments that most of us barely notice feel overwhelming or even threatening.
To be expected to fit into a world that often wasn’t designed with the way your brain works in mind.
And then, when it all becomes too much, to have people see the behaviour without always understanding what is happening underneath it.
We have come such a long way in our understanding of autism, and I am incredibly grateful for that. But we still have such a long way to go.
We need to keep moving beyond simply asking autistic children to adapt to our world, and become better at understanding their world too.
We need more acceptance. More patience. More appropriate support. More education. More people willing to look beyond behaviour and ask, “What is this person trying to tell me?”
Because sometimes what looks like defiance is overwhelm.
What looks like “bad behaviour” is distress.
What looks like refusal may be fear.
And what looks simple to us can feel enormous to someone else.
I’m doing these 70km because this cause has become incredibly close to my heart.
Not because I want autistic kids to become better at fitting into what we consider “normal”, but because I want the world around them to become better at making room for them exactly as they are, while giving them the support and opportunities they need to thrive.
So today, another few kilometres are behind me.
9km down. 61km to go.
And with every step, I’ll keep reminding myself what those kilometres represent.
Understanding. Acceptance. Support. And hopefully, a future where kids who experience the world differently don’t have to fight quite so hard just to find their place in it. 💙
Day two done.
Why We’re Running 💙
This October, we’re taking on 70km for Run for Autism.
Of course, autism is something very close to our hearts, but I also wanted this challenge to be about something positive for us as a family.
Life can get incredibly busy with work, appointments, learning and everything else that comes with raising a family. Getting outside together gives us a chance to slow down, step away from all of that and just enjoy each other.
We can walk, talk, explore somewhere new and actually notice what’s around us. There’s no pressure to get anywhere quickly and knowing Hunter, there will probably be plenty of stops to investigate something interesting along the way!
Our journey with autism hasn’t always been easy. We’re still learning, adjusting and sometimes getting things completely wrong. But we’re learning together.
I’m learning more about Hunter’s world, and he’s learning how to navigate ours.
That’s a big part of why supporting Run for Autism means so much to me. The money raised supports Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) and their work supporting Autistic people and their families through services, education, research and creating more autism-friendly communities.
So, for us, these 70km aren’t about how fast we can do them.
They’re about time together, learning from each other and supporting an organisation working towards a world where Autistic people are understood, accepted and given the opportunity to thrive.
One kilometre at a time. Together. Team Atkinson 💙
I’m joining the movement to Run for Autism. But I need your help.
Why am I running 70km this October? Because 70% of Autistic people face mental health challenges.
I’m running towards a more inclusive world where Autistic Australians have the opportunity to thrive.
Please donate now and show your support to my fundraiser. You’ll be helping provide early diagnosis, autism-specific education, and critical research into mental health issues experienced by Autistic people so they can access the support they need to realise their different brilliant®.
You’ll also give me the motivation I need to log my kilometres as I go the distance throughout October. Donate now to show your support.
Thank you!
