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A mother's refusal to accept a doctor's verdict
Judy Sharp rejected a specialist's claim that her autistic son Tim would be incapable of love. His drawings proved otherwise.
In brief
Judy Sharp rejected a specialist's claim that her autistic son Tim would be incapable of love. His drawings proved otherwise. Judy Sharp refused to accept a doctor's diagnosis that her autistic son Tim would be unfeeling and incapable of love, and through drawing they built a relationship that took them around the…
Born on a historic day
Tim Sharp was born in nineteen eighty-eight, the same day the queen opened the new Parliament House in Canberra. His mother Judy thought it was a very special day.
Early signs of autism
As a baby, Tim did not sleep, was distressed with constant crying, and seemed unsettled. As he got older, he had to keep moving and could not stay in the same room as people.
A specialist's bleak diagnosis
At three years old, Tim was diagnosed with autism by a specialist. The doctor told Judy that Tim would be unfeeling and incapable of love, taking away all her hope.
“unfeeling and incapable of love”
A mother knows better
After leaving the doctor's office, Judy was hysterical in the car. Tim patted her on the back and wiped away her tears. She knew that little boy loved her.
“You tell me that boy doesn't love me.”
Drawing becomes their language
The specialist said Tim would never speak. But when he was five, he started to draw. By accident, Judy and Tim began to draw to communicate with each other.
Laser Beak Man is born
When Tim was eleven, he started saying he would become Laser Beak Man, a superhero he had created. Tim injected his own personality and sense of humour into the character.
“When I grew up, I'm going to be Laser Beak Man”
A journey around the world
Laser Beak Man took Tim and Judy on a journey from New York to London to the Sydney Opera House, into TV, theatre and movies. They travelled the world and met so many people.
Tim speaks about love
Tim says drawing makes him happy and lets him use his big imagination. He loves that his mum is a good friend and good mother who takes care of him and likes him just the way he is.
“Love is everything. I feel it in everything.”
A mother's reflection
Judy finds it easy to spend most of her time with Tim. He is patient and kind. He frequently tells her he loves her and says at the end of the day, we are a great team.
“I've had a really good day with you, Mum. We're a great team.”
What Judy learned
Judy says the best thing you can do in life is follow Tim's example: be brave, be yourself and show the world who you really are. Love makes life better and happy.
The one thing
Judy Sharp refused to accept a doctor's diagnosis that her autistic son Tim would be unfeeling and incapable of love, and through drawing they built a relationship that took them around the world.
