Red

By: Susan Boesger

Narrated by: Zach Roe

"When Mom drops me off at school today, she tells me to be good, be calm, no hitting, be a good friend, no throwing things." This understated narrative offers a glimpse into the daily life of a young autistic boy as he strives to learn about the different shades of the world despite the frustrations that sometimes overwhelm him.

©2015 Susan Boesger (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Lacks an Understanding of Autism

Although this is only an eleven minute listen, from the perspective of a young boy, it is lacking. Autism is a much more complex and different kind of malady than depicted in this short story. Its really NOT all about anger and controlling one's feelings, a thing that a young child with autism is helpless to do. It is more about limiting a child's stimuli and figuring out what his or her triggers are, and forming an environment conductive to learning. As the mother of an adult who is autistic, I can attest to the helplessness and utter frustration of raising a child with autism . . . and know that the feeling is just as upsetting for the child, who WANTS to be like everyone else, to understand what is expected of them, WANTS to fit in, WANTS to learn. And when fits of anger and throwing things erupt, it is in response to being unable to conform to society and the environment in which they have been thrown, NOT because they want a ball and have been denied it.