To the employer who will one day meet my son. Please let him in with kindness
I’ve been praying for my son’s university results. Every day. As soon as I open my eyes in the morning, I sometimes do so with my eyes closed. I’m not asking for honours or headlines. Just asking for strength and perseverance. For him to finish what he started.
Yesterday, the results came in. He has a university award. Now, that’s a big thing for me! Why? Because my son has autism.
He studied in a world that doesn’t always understand how his mind works.
A world that doesn’t slow down.
A world that doesn’t always feel safe for someone who processes things differently.
But he stayed the course.
He fought through noise, deadlines, group work, and overstimulation.
He kept showing up.
And now, he’s crossed the finish line.
When he emailed me the news yesterday, I was at work. I read his message, and I couldn’t help it.
Tears just came.
Not the kind you hide.
Tears of joy.
Of relief.
Of knowing how far he’s come.
How hard it’s been.
How quietly brave he’s been — not for applause, but for his own becoming.
I congratulated him through a WhatsApp message. Just a few simple words but full of love. And when I got home, I shared the good news with my family. We all knew this wasn’t an easy road.
Not for someone with autism. But he remained resilient. Tough. Even when he wanted to give up, he didn’t.
The mind indeed remembers anything important and meaningful. I told my close friends and family many years ago, “On the day he graduates, I will be the happiest mom in the world!” That day is now within reach. I thank God for granting this wish. And I’m thankful beyond words.
I’m now looking forward to the day I see him graduate in a cap, gown and that quiet look of pride on his face.
I know in my heart that his journey has just begun. And so I write this not only as a mother but also as someone who wants to leave a lasting message — for every hiring manager, recruiter, team leader, employer, or company owner who might one day encounter someone like my son. Please include the word autism in your life. So when someone on the spectrum comes to you, whether in person, through an email, or in their own unique way, please give them a chance.
They may not always look you in the eye.
They may speak differently.
They may not ace your timed logic test or charm you in an interview.
But behind all that, they carry unique skills.
Integrity.
Passion.
Hard work.
And often, a quiet kind of brilliance you won’t see on a résumé.
Please don’t measure my son or anyone like him by what they lack, but see them for what they’ve overcome.
See the effort it took just to be in the room.
And by doing so, the world becomes a kinder place when we make space for all kinds of minds.
And my son, like so many others, deserves that space.
