Today, autism affects as many as 1 in 59 children in the United States. Because every child or person with autism displays very different strengths and challenges, autism is considered a spectrum disorder. Within the spectrum is Asperger’s Syndrome, which tends to have less severe symptoms. As a result, often children with the syndrome are viewed as behaving “differently” than other children which can lead to feelings of isolation at school. However, it wasn’t until a Grade 5 student with Asperger’s wrote a poem about his feelings that many parents, families, and teachers got a true view of just how isolating the disorder can be. (1, 2, 3)

Child With Autism Enlightens With Poem

Benjamin Giroux of Plattsburgh, New York and his Grade 5 class received an assignment to write a poem about themselves to celebrate National Poetry Month. The students were provided just two words to get them started, “I am.” (3)

When Benjamin got home from school, he began writing his poem at the kitchen table. After a few hours, he gave the poem to his parents. They were overwhelmed by the poem which read:

I am odd, I am new

I wonder if you are too

I hear voices in the air

I see you don’t, and that’s not fair

I want to not feel blue

I am odd, I am new

I pretend that you are too

I feel like a boy in outer space

I touch the stars and feel out of place

I worry what others might think

I cry when people laugh, it makes me shrink

I am odd, I am new

I understand now that so are you

I say I, “feel like a castaway”

I dream of a day that that’s okay

I try to fit in

I hope that someday I do

I am odd, I am new. (3)

Poem About Autism Provides Emotional Outlet

“At first, we felt sad and hurt that he feels isolated, alone, misunderstood and odd at school,” says his father Sonny. “As the poem went on, we realized that he understands that he’s odd and that so is everyone else in their own way, which is what Ben wants everyone to embrace.” (3)

It was especially meaningful as Benjamin has difficulty expressing his emotions and feelings. “When we ask him how his day went when he gets home from school, we don’t get much more than a one-word answer,” says Sonny. (3)

Autism Poem Posted On Facebook

Benjamin was unable to join his class to recite his poem aloud as he was overwhelmed with anxiety that his poem wasn’t good enough. Anxiety is just one of many emotional challenges children with autism have to live with. (3, 2)

His father saw the beauty and honesty of Benjamin’s poem, so he decided to post it to Facebook. His hope was to have friends and family provide positive comments about the poem, but he was not prepared for what happened. The comments and sharing were so widespread, the National Autism Association saw the post and shared it on their page. As a result, thousands of people saw the poem and were eager to share their comments about how inspiring and meaningful Benjamin’s poem was for them. (3)

Autism Poem Reaches Other Families

“We try to read him as many comments as we can to show the impact he’s had,” says Sonny. “It makes him happy too, which is always nice to see.” (3)

The post has helped other parents understand how their kids might feel about their own lives and experiences. “Ben’s goal was to have people understand that being odd is different, and different is amazing, and people shouldn’t be afraid of who they are,” says Sonny. “And that makes me one proud father!” (3)