The People We Walk With

The People We Walk With
            As we walk through life, we share the trail with family, friends, and sometimes strangers who make a mark on our lives. Twists of fate can bring unexpected interactions that affect us profoundly.
            A dark, challenging period of our family life trying to help our severely autistic son took a miraculous positive turn with the appearance of a gifted special ed teacher in our world.
            The story of how this insightful young man pulled our family out of despair, ultimately leading to the creation of HikingAutism.com, is told in my interview with Kevin Lowe of the Grit, Grace and Inspiration podcast. Kevin, who suddenly lost his sight at age 17, taps into his own personal strength to inspire others. Check out the moving story of how HikingAutism.com got started in podcast episode #169, “The Heartfelt Story Behind a Mother’s Dream to Take Her Autistic Son Hiking.”
            Interviews about our family’s autism journey usually focus on the dramatic period when our “autism whisperer” drew Sean out from his protective shell. The wonderful helpers who carried our family forward after we lost our beloved teacher aren’t credited enough.
            Here is a chance to say thank you to all of the teachers, therapists, friends, family and autism support people who have helped our family over the years.
            Caring people are a major force in helping families like ours survive a challenging situation. For us, the ability to get outdoors and enjoy the countless beautiful sights nature has to offer is another saving grace.
            Many of the hikes that appear in HikingAutism.com are on trails that one of our long-standing helpers introduced us to, including this week’s Hike Notes at Pillar Point Bluff. Thanks to our autism-support hiking buddy who always has another great location to share.
            This week’s Hike Notes, Pillar Point Bluff, leads readers on a cliff-top walk along the bluffs above the Pacific in Moss Beach, California, near the Mavericks big surf area of Half Moon Bay.
            Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area (was Quick View Hike List) page. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Please feel free to share on Facebook at HikingAutism, and follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism
New this week:
Hike Notes 178: Pillar Point Bluff