Mother Shares Two-Year Struggle With Shame Over Son's Autism
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Noa Navon spoke about the two years she hid her shame over her son Shaharr's autism diagnosis, fearing judgment from others. Despite initial medical dismissal and dire predictions, Shaharr has made significant developmental progress. Navon shared her journey of acceptance, the challenges of parenting, and the creation of a performance to help others. She now works as an art therapist, supporting children with special needs and trauma survivors, advocating for open communication and seeking help.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Noa Navon hid her shame about her son Shaharr's autism for two years, fearing judgment.
- Despite early medical dismissal, Shaharr has achieved significant developmental milestones.
- Navon and her husband created a performance titled "Autistic Is Not a Curse" to share their story.
- She now works as an art therapist, helping children with special needs and trauma survivors.
- Navon emphasizes the importance of seeking professional help and not facing challenges alone.
Noa Navon, an art therapist and mother of five, revealed in an interview with Dr. Chana Katan that she hid her feelings of shame and embarrassment about her son Shaharr's developmental challenges for two years. Navon first noticed that something was amiss with Shaharr's development when he was just three months old, but struggled to get a diagnosis, feeling isolated and fearful. Despite her professional background and experience with children with special needs, she found it difficult to open up to those close to her, even pushing them away.
Navon recounted seeking medical advice when Shaharr was three months old, suspecting autism, but was dismissed by a doctor as hysterical. She persisted, and eventually, Shaharr began receiving physical therapy and undergoing early diagnostic assessments. The family opted for therapeutic intervention even before a full diagnosis was complete, aiming to maximize the window for developmental support. Despite dire predictions from professionals that Shaharr would not walk, talk, or read, Navon emphasizes that he has achieved significant milestones, albeit with developmental gaps compared to his peers.
The article highlights the emotional toll of raising a child with special needs, particularly during significant life events like a bar mitzvah. Navon described the complex emotions of grief and acceptance as Shaharr celebrated his bar mitzvah, an event carefully tailored to his needs. While he managed to read two verses from the Torah, a monumental achievement for the family, Navon acknowledged the ongoing process of letting go of imagined futures for her son and embracing his reality.
Navon's journey also transformed her approach to relationships and her professional life. She stressed the importance of fighting for her marriage amidst the demanding routine of parenting a child with special needs. This experience, along with her husband's, led to the creation of a joint performance titled "Autistic Is Not a Curse," which shares their story and aims to help other parents feel less alone. Furthermore, Navon has channeled her experiences into her work, providing art therapy to at-risk youth and children with special needs, and recently, to survivors of the October 7th attacks, emphasizing that seeking help is crucial and there is no shame in it.