Last night I was up in the wee hours of the morning, as I often am, with my special needs son, who often struggles to sleep through the midnight hours.

He was watching Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. My non-verbal, quadriplegic, perpetually smiling child reacts with nods, vocalisations, and waves as Mr. Rogers waves at the camera and sings, “I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood…with you.”

In this episode, on making mistakes, Daniel Tiger worries that he might be a mistake because he is different from other tigers he knows. Mr. Rogers, in his gentle and genuine way, reassures his listeners, “No one is a mistake. Even people who are very different. Everyone…is…fine.”

My very different child smiles and turns to look at me, then turns back to his friend Mr. Rogers.

These midnight hours often turn into my pondering time. I watch my son and reflect on how long ago it feels that I watched and listened to Mr. Rogers as a child, hanging on his every word, learning along with Daniel Tiger that I could be a good friend…that everyone of every color and ability was here for a purpose…that we were all neighbors in this not-so-big world.

Then I had a special needs child. I learned to my heartbreak that not everyone believes that people of all abilities have a purpose. As I returned with my son to Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, I found myself wishing that we all really could live there, where we can all be friends and no one is seen as a mistake.

I started to write a piece that I feel communicates the beauty and purpose of my son’s unassuming, unconditionally loving, generously joyful existence.

Then I felt afraid.

Afraid that my tribute to my child and my efforts to convey his great value in this world, his tremendous value to me, would be labeled as “inspiration porn.” Afraid that the very personal and tender emotions that I feel towards my precious child would be trampled on by others. Afraid that my expressions of gratitude for his life here, defined in unconventional terms, would be misunderstood.

Then he giggled at the trolley rolling through my old friend Fred’s living room. The same way he giggles when we play with trains and airplanes. The same warmth and love swelled in my heart that I get to experience every day, every time I hear that amazing laugh. I wanted to share that feeling with you, if I even could put it into words. So here’s what I wrote, every word of this poem is true of my sweet son.

I hope you like it, but since we are all different, there’s a chance you won’t. That’s OK. You can still sit at our table…

because no one is a mistake.

So God Made a Special Needs Child

God looked at the world with its greens and its blues, with its beautiful children in rainbows of hues, Its crawling things below and soaring things above,

but He sighed and said, “The world needs much more love.”

So God made a child very different from others, to help people see we’re all sisters and brothers.

This child couldn’t speak in traditional ways, but for those who would listen, he had so much to say.

He smiled at anyone who happened to meet him, even to those who didn’t know how to greet him.

He spread love through his sounds and the warmth of his gaze, he smiled and laughed even on his hardest days.

He taught people patience, if they took time to hear, and he offered a hug to everyone who came near.

Some looked on with pity, but little they knew, his life held so much joy from his point of view.

In all that he tried, he gave 200 per cent. He carried his purpose wherever he went.

He didn’t judge the mighty or small — race, gender, or social status, he shared smiles and love to all.

For those who knew him and loved him, he changed the world for good.

For those who didn’t see his value, he still offered them all he could.

I pray that someday the whole world sees the beauty of that smile.

The smile through struggle, the smile through rejection, the smile that goes the long mile.

So God made a special needs child as an ambassador of love and grace.

To teach the world unconditional love and patience, to make it a happier place.

The child who speaks through his smiles and waves has much to say if we listen.

Everyone is welcome with him, if only we all would see with his vision.

Never dismiss a human just because they aren’t exactly like you.

No one is a mistake, everyone has a purpose, we all are worthy of love, it’s true.