Mom Gets Real About Daughter You Would Never Know Had Autism
When Shannon Whitney moved to Stittsville with her husband, Tran, and her 13-year-old daughter, Kiara, their neighbors watched with concern as the teen took her daily walks.
“Our big thing is that we treat her like a 13-year-old. She should be able to roam like a 13-year-old, as long that she can demonstrate, not risk taking, but that she will follow the proper protocol,” Shannon explained.
One particular incident drove the mother to Facebook.
Kiara was found balancing on the railing of a bridge. Concerned witnesses called the police to come before she fell.
“It’s not a big bridge,” the teen said. “It’s the one with small railing and it’s over a tiny river and I was balancing on the railing and I was sitting on it and at one point I took off my shoes and people got scared and the police came.”
When police brought the young girl to her mother, she had to explain that her daughter lives with high functioning autism.
She then decided that it was time to properly introduce her daughter to their new community, with Kiara’s permission of course.
“My philosophy in Orleans was, it’s better to be known,” she said. “People were watching her as she was walking down the street. It wasn’t creepy. They were watching out for her. They were delighted that she was so happy.”
Shannon wanted the same community in their new town. Because Kiara is so smart, many people would never guess that she is on the autism spectrum.
She logged on to the Stittsville Neighbours Facebook page and wrote, “I’d like to introduce you to my daughter, Kiara. Kiara is a loving, caring, content teenager who strongly values goodness. Kiara also lives with high functioning autism and has strong sensory needs.”
Kiara often walks barefoot because she gets overheated and craves the feeling of her bare feet on the ground. This is why she takes such long walks alone.
Shannon has been overwhelmed by the number of supportive comments she has received in return.
One commenter said, “I will happily be part of her village! Love the smile, love the fact that you embrace and value her needs and love that you have shared her story with us. Stittsville moms will keep her safe, I have no doubt.”
Others even asked how to approach Kiara if she was doing something unsafe.
Shannon said that she was inspired to empower Kiara the same way her mom advocated for her as a deaf child.
“We’ve come to the point of calculated risk. We did have a talk (with Kiara) about how other people don’t know her. Other people don’t realize that she’s confident and secure on the bridge,” she said.
Knowing that the community of Stittsville is also watching out for her daughter brings Shannon peace.
In response to the supportive comments, Shannon wrote, “Thank you to all of you for your amazing and supportive responses. In the years that have passed since Kiara’s diagnosis, we’ve come to realize that keeping this private out of fear of stigmatization just isn’t worth it.”
“It’s more important for us that she be embraced as she is, that she never ever feel ashamed for having been born with challenges, and that she have a supportive community around her loving her and lifting her up.”
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