Well, when I read manga and graphic novels it’s for escapism, a way to unwind and suspend with reality and open my imagination. This week when I read With the Light, I came crashing back down to reality. This was a very emotional book for me, perhaps because I’m a parent of a child with an identified exceptionality (albeit not autism) and I am also certified in Behaviour Modification, it felt real to me. This book is a work of fiction based on extensive research by the author Keiko Tobe, and she did her homework. Synopsis: Hikaru was born to eager parents full of hope and joy. However, it wasn’t long after his birth that his mother Sachiko started to notice some troubling things about her son. First it was his continuous crying and his dislike for being held. Then it was the lack of eye contact and his delay in walking and speech that alarmed her. Fortunately a perceptive family doctor sent Sachiko and Hikaru for tests; this is where they hear the word autism for the first time.
Sachiko goes through stages in coming to terms with her son’s diagnosis: denial, guilt, and a great deal of shame which leads her to go to great lengths trying to hide it from everyone. Her son's behaviour causes her to lose friends, brings accusations of bad parenting from the in-laws and even threatens to end her marriage.
After finding some much needed support from her parents, Sachiko finds the strength to seek help from the Social Welfare Center that had first diagnosed the possibility of autism. Thankfully, the center is full of helpful and knowledgeable staff that put Sachiko and Hikaru on the path to learning how to work with autism and giving them the opportunity to meet other families who are in the same boat.
A health emergency for Sachiko’s husband Masato causes him to re-evaluate his life and reunites the family. It soon becomes clear that raising Hikaru requires a joint effort, not only for the parents, but also from family, friends and the community at large. Hikaru becomes a unifying force as everyone works to keep him safe.
The story follows both Hikaru’s progress and challenges he faces in his early years as he goes from day care to Kindergarten and Grade 1 up to the birth of his sister.
Thoughts: This book does several things. It gives us a glimpse into the life of a family who is learning to cope with a child with a disability. It demonstrates the many stresses families face both at home and within the community such as dealing with schools, daycares, family, neighbors and friends. It highlights that the one major obstacle families face is the lack of knowledge which leads to all kinds of misunderstandings, ignorant comments, blame and fear even in places one would expect understanding, such as hospitals and schools.
For all the negative feelings, Keiko Tobe gives us hope by showing that there are incredibly supportive people to be found in the community who are willing to go the extra mile and work with Hikaru. As for autism, the story shows us some of the methods and tools used to help reach children with this disorder. Some of the dangers and pitfalls are also explored but the overall message is one of hope or light.
I highly recommend this manga, as it helps raise awareness of this often perplexing disorder, it also reminds us to be mindful of how we judge others. It truly takes a community to raise a child.
With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child Vol. 1 by Keiko Tobe is published by Yen Press . Volume 11 is set to be released in September 2011.