“The Soul of Autism” explores alternative possibilities
April is Autism Awareness Month, and in the spirit of a greater understanding of this disability, I have for you a spotlight on William Stillman’s The Soul of Autism: Looking Beyond Labels to Unveil Spiritual Secrets of the Heart Savants.
Stillman probes and challenges the misconceptions surrounding autism, looking into the deep spiritual sensitivity of autistic individuals. Rather than dismissing autism as a developmental disability that stigmatizes both adults and children, Stillman explores quite a different possibility: what if autism was a spiritual gift?
According to the Autism Society of America, about 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism, which roughly equates to 1 in 150 children living with the condition. Autism affects an individual’s ability to communicate or interact with others around him, manifesting itself in a wide spectrum of symptoms with varying degrees of severity. While there is no definite known cause, research indicates that genetics and environmental toxins may play important roles.
According to Stillman, the outward symptoms of autism can hide a spiritual maturity, what he calls “the amazing sensitivities” of those suffering from this disorder. Citing an inexplicable rise in autism, as well as a complete lack of a single definitive cause, Stillman vocalizes the possibility that autism is simply a step forward in our spirituality, a “necessary part of our spiritual evolution.” He addresses the question of autistic telepathy and communication with animals, as well as how the reality of these gifts is relevant to all of us. For those who have autism, their limitations in social interaction can in fact allow for a deeper spirituality.
For more information on William Stillman or his book, The Soul of Autism, please visit his website here.
