Parent: It Doesn’t Make It A Bad Life, It’s Just Very Different

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Edward and Jheaneale Marshall are the proud parents of seven-year-old Bear Marshall.

When looking at the happy home interviews, Bear proves to be a perfect reminder of the saying “autism doesn’t have a face.”

His mother, Jheaneale, says the experience they’ve had with specialists here is similar – if not better, to those they had with American specialists.

But the family is quick to acknowledge while the resources are here, they’re not always accessible for lower-income families.

With no obvious physical disability, they tell me there’s often a lack of understanding of bear’s behavior in public. 

It’s something his mother says comes down to staff training and public awareness…

Saying before she had bear, she may have been the judgmental onlooker too…

The marshalls tell us after bear’s official diagnosis, social invitations slowed, leaving the family feeling isolated at times. 

Edward has this advice for friends of parents of a child on the autism spectrum. 

They’re now working on creating an online community for parents with children on the autism spectrum in their area.

Jheaneale tells us one of the hardest things was releasing her expectations of what raising her child would be like, choosing instead to celebrate Bear’s milestones as they come.