Perched atop a small hill in the woods of Marietta sits a cozy cabin home with a sloped roof. It is a place filled with peace and serenity. I0nside feels like a tiny piece of Mexico, the native land of homeowner Lola Hernández, who immigrated to Georgia 21 years ago.
Hernández lives there with her two sons, one of whom, Eric, was born in 1996 and was diagnosed with autism at age three.
Since then, life has not been easy for Hernández.
“People don’t realize how big the spectrum is. Each condition varies with the child,” said Hernández.
She is quick to point out, however, that, far from being an obstacle, her son’s condition has proven to be a unique and transformative experience. For Hernández, developing tolerance, empathy and creativity has been an important exercise in the process of raising Eric.
“It’s an opportunity to grow and learn a lot,” she added.
Hernández said “educating” herself has been key. “Learning all the time, never stopping,” she assured.
Hernández also works diligently to prepare Eric, with regards to his daily functioning and abilities, for the day she is longer there.
“Tomorrow I may not be here, and although it might seem strange, my main motivation is thinking: how can I hope for him to function when I’m not here,” she said.
Hernández works closely with the community, offering herself as a speaker at conferences and support groups for parents. As well, she has a blog and podcast. She and Eric even published a book: ‘Animals, Love, Friendship.’ Colorfully illustrated, the book utilizes a simple format to explain the differences that a person with autism may have.
According to current statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in every 68 children is born with autism. Studies also show that the condition is almost five times more common in boys than girls: 1 in 42 males compared with 1 in 189 females.
Autism is perhaps one of the most misunderstood conditions in society.
According to the CDC, disorders along the autism spectrum can be officially diagnosed at age three, although new studies are moving the age of diagnosis back to as early as six months. Normally, parents are the first to observe uncommon behaviors in their child or the inability to reach normal milestones of childhood development.
That was Hernández’s experience. “The blow wasn’t when they gave me his diagnosis. It was when I reached the conclusion that he had autism. I just thought, what do I do with this?” she said.
At that time, Hernández did not even speak English. “I didn’t even know where to begin, because they told me: ‘Don’t speak Spanish to him, you’ll confuse him.’ But nowadays, that has proven to be false,” she said.
For Eric, routines are key.
“He does everything on his own time. Eric is very methodical. You have to get him up ahead of time. He washes his face, makes his bed, eats breakfast. His father takes him to school. He picks an outfit every day. In the afternoon, the bus brings him home,” explained Hernández.
She saw the fruits of her labor in May when Eric walked in his high school graduation ceremony. “It was very significant, a culmination of years of hard work,” Hernández said. “He has come a long way.”
Hernández shares her experience and tools with others through workshops, conferences, podcasts and via social media. She has advice for families who face autism.
“Think of the diagnosis as an adventure. In an adventure, not everything is good or clear,” she said. “Secondly, educating yourself is key. And most importantly, take care of yourself. That’s your only power.”
Contact Hernández through Facebook or her website, lolahernandezg.blogspot.mx/
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