What Lisha Has Taught Me
I learn from Lisha every single day.
She’s taught me to look beyond what someone can’t do and instead focus on everything they can. She’s shown me the importance of observing closely—of reading her subtle cues, her emotional signals, her gestures, and the meaning behind them. She’s taught me to pause, to listen with more than just my ears, and to meet someone exactly where they are.
One of the most important shifts for me has been learning to presume competence. When I first met Lisha, I didn’t understand how much she truly grasped. But now I know—just because she doesn’t speak, doesn’t mean she isn’t listening. She hears every word spoken to her and around her. She absorbs everything. She’s smart, clever, and sometimes mischievous. She even tries to trick or test me now and then—her way of showing just how much she knows.
Her impact on me has gone far beyond our day-to-day routines. Because of her, I’ve stepped into new roles. I now volunteer as an ABIDE Sunday School teacher at Gateway Church of Visalia, where I get to use what I’ve learned from Lisha to support other incredible children. Children who, like her, deserve to be seen, heard, and understood in their own ways.
Lisha has given me more than just insight into autism—she’s given me a calling.
I’ve become more patient. More compassionate. Quicker to give the benefit of the doubt. More intentional in the ways I listen and respond. I now know, deeply, that there’s no one-size-fits-all way to communicate or connect.
That’s why I’ve begun earning certifications in advocacy, autism education, and nonspeaking autism training. My goal is to keep learning so that I can better support children like Lisha—children who are autistic, nonspeaking, Deaf, or any combination of the above—and their families. I want them to know they belong. I want them to be empowered, included, and understood.
Because every child deserves that.