Life's Disapointments

Have you ever been in a situation where things just do not appear to be what you think ?  Maybe it is a situation you find yourself in, a person you thought you knew, a connection or understanding that really wasn't connected at all?  
We often get confused by situations, people, learning and life....and were are the supposedly "neuro-typical ones!"  
Reflect for a minute....  How difficult life is for us in general to negotiating time, commitments, work, school, families, relationships and friendships. Then for a minute try to think what it would be like for a person who has no ability to be able to use the information that we do, to face all of the above.  To be unable to read facial expressions, read body language, understand sarcastic remarks or slang, sympathise or feel empathy. To not have the ability to see other's perspectives or understand why a situation has changed suddenly.  To not be able to draw on "positive past experiences" when faced with uncertainty, to not any sense of "being spontaneous" or to take risks for fear of the "unknown."  All the above things I have described are characterised of how a person with Autism or Aspergers can think. Of course I can only comment on my own children's experience, but many of the above are present traits that lie within the Autism Spectrum.  
When I first discovered my son was Autistic, I was so over-whelmed with questions, for me, the only answer was knowledge. I have always said knowledge is power....  So I began to read.  But when reading book after book, watching too many DVD's to count and listening to many specialists, all that information, we are told to believe, becomes very consuming.  Over the years I have learnt that we need to make our own assumptions based on how our children develop.  I hadn't even considered any of the above characteristics until I was introduce to the R.D.I program. That is... Relationships Developmental Intervention.  I guess I was awestruck when it did finally hit me..... all of the above things were areas of development I hadn't even considered important. As my son was diagnosed as "non-verbal", I was focussing on speech. Even if that meant words with no meaning. At least he was speaking right?   But how important are they?    .....in my opinion VITAL!  How else can a person function in a world that constantly changes and throws obstacles within our path.  How do we solve problems at home, social conflicts and at work?  I feel how we do cope with change and obstacles defines what sort of person we are.  That is; problem-solver/ positive/ being able to be creative/ sympathetic/ strong/ determined / opinionated/ forth-right/ an achiever/ a learner/ educator/ accepting/ respectful/ someone that makes things happen/ someone that can cope with extreme pressure/ strong-hearted/ powerful/ confident. How we behave and act, determines how and if we can survive in the "real world" .  Experience with various ASD programs over the years have not given much value to these "survival needs". Isn't it time we raise the bar for those that didn't develop these things naturally?  Why can't we teach these skills?  Isn't it time we stop turning our ASD kids into little robots who recite set phrases without intent or meaning just to hear them talk?  Don't we want more for our ASD kids?  ..... a better life?    I know I do....