Mr. Speaker, April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day, and it has been 23 years since my son Jaden was diagnosed. Jaden often needs help to navigate the world around him. Let us face it. We all need help sometimes.
Jaden also has many things the world needs right now. Surrounded by unrelenting noise, the world needs some quiet, and Jaden challenges us to slow down to wait for his thoughts to find expression in their own time and form. When we just pause and tune in to him, there is so much we can learn.
The world needs grace, and no matter what mistakes or poor choices I have made and will make, Jaden's love for me is almost impossibly pure and unconditional. The world also needs encouragement. Rest assured, Jaden stands ready with an enthusiastic high-five for quite literally everyone when we are able to come together again.
Finally, the world needs gratitude. I am so thankful for the tens of millions of people around the world with autism whose unique abilities and perspectives will benefit all of us if we build societies that better include them.