The first picture might just look like scribbling to you.
To me, it is Alessio doing his very best.
Because of his severe hypotonia, Alessio has very poor hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. He cannot write or draw, and even when given a simple outline to colour, he struggles to coordinate what he sees with the movement of his hands.
But here's the beautiful thing...
He is always so proud of what he has done. 🥰
He will bring his artwork home from his Day Centre, show it to me with such pride, and of course I always tell him how clever he is.
Recently, the young people at his Day Centre were making recyclable bags.
Alessio chose the lovely smiling picture himself. He couldn't manage all the painting and gluing independently, so the wonderful staff supported him with the parts he found difficult.
And look what he accomplished. 💙
That is why I wanted to show these two pictures together.
What Alessio can do independently — and what he can achieve when someone gives him the right support.
Many years ago, his Educational Psychologist predicted that Alessio would never achieve anything.
Perhaps that is why every achievement still feels like a miracle to me.
I don't measure his achievements against what another 23-year-old can do.
I measure them against how far Alessio has travelled to get there.
And when I look at that last photograph — his smile, proudly holding up the bag he helped to create — I don't see disability.
I see pride.
I see achievement.
I see my son proving, in his own way, that a prediction should never define a person's potential. ❤️
Well done, Alessio.
#Iamunstoppable #ynny #miracleboy #celebrateeverylittleachievement #rightsupport #autisticboy #Ifeelproud #skysthelimits
