Book shines light on autism, resilience

The inspiring book, The Boys With Happy Feet Dance, authored by Bode Abifarin, has shed light on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ways to quickly recover from difficult conditions.

The book chronicles the remarkable story of a mother’s unwavering dedication to her twin boys, Ethan and Nathan, both diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

At the book presentation, attendees were moved by the poignant journey shared in the pages. In a heartfelt quote, the author emphasised, “The focus of this book is really a story of resilience, story of care, nurturing, as a parent, guardian, and caregiver, the love of watering the soil which is our children.”

Ethan and Nathan’s mother, through relentless research and collaboration with therapists, equipped her sons with essential life skills, incorporating beneficial diets, sports, and indoor activities into their routines.

Today, both boys have made significant progress in their journey to social integration, defying expectations and embracing their individuality.

Abifarin mentioned that the inspiration beyond the book is her children, twin boys, documenting everything been pass through in making them grow.

While lamenting that many children have not been diagnosed, said: “We need to strengthen the awareness, support, facilitators and give knowledge to parents.”

The author said early diagnosis is very important and empowering the community with the knowledge and resources they need is also crucial. “When you find out that your child is battling disorder, don’t hide them, go for the knowledge, the care, the resources, do research and speak to consultants.”

One of the book’s reviewers, Lola Esan, described it as “pure love inspiration, knowledge, and emotion,” highlighting its role as a timeless gift to humanity.

She emphasised its importance as a source of comfort and understanding for families navigating similar challenges.

According to her, autism awareness was not like how it was in the past. “Now these days, there is progress and people create awareness.

“We need to move beyond seeing autism like an illness. But there is still a lot to be done.”

Esan urge the government to do more in terms of accommodation, provision, support and create more awareness about autism. She commended the author for putting up a great effort to write such a beautiful book for people to read, learn and gain more knowledge.

The book’s editor, Lolade Alaka, commended its heartwarming narrative, offering rare insight into the lives of individuals with autism and their caregivers.

“From the book, you will get empathy for people living with Autism spectrum disorder because in society, we don’t really give opportunities for people living differently,” Alaka remarked.

The launch event underscored the increasing awareness and progress in understanding autism, urging there is need for continued support from both the government and community. As Abifarin aptly noted, “Because we have autism patients in one family does not make them inhuman.”

The Boys with Happy Feet Dance stands as a testament to the power of love, perseverance, and compassion in overcoming obstacles, offering hope and encouragement to all those touched by autism spectrum disorder.