How Vine Helped This Mother Explain What It's Like To Raise A Child With Autism

    When Kimberly Maschi found out her son, Jase, was autistic, she didn't know what to do. But now she's explaining what it's like and helping other parents, six seconds at a time.

    This is Jase saying his first proper word, “bus”, at the age of 5.

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    His mother, Kimberly Maschi, called it the "most beautiful word ever".

    Jase was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2010. Kimberly has been using Vine for last year to give people an insight into their life together and all the trials and joys of raising an autistic child.

    Kimberly, 30, from Oxford, Massachusetts – who also has a daughter aged 2 – started offering a glimpse into her life with Jase in October 2013:

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    She got such a reaction from those Vines, she decided to start a new account: Nothing Is Wrong, where she retells the whole story of how she found out Jase was autistic and the problems, and joy, she's faced since.

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    Kimberly tells BuzzFeed that she's trying to help people understand what raising a child with autism is really like:

    I know a lot of other mothers on Vine who have children with autism, and many individuals who themselves have autism. I liked sharing my story with them and wanted to do more.

    I wanted to give people an inside look into what this life is really like. I see many people using Vine for more than just comedy, so I thought I would too.

    Frankie takes the viewer through her story, from the moment Jase was diagnosed, on 18 August 2010.

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    Through her Vines, Kimberly references her own initial doubt that something might be wrong, through to her acceptance and search for medical help.

    The timeline starts here if you want to start at the beginning.

    She re-enacts various scenes from their life together, such as when Jase was neglected at daycare.

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    Her posts are raw and emotional.

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    Her Vines show how other people struggle to understand her son or the challenges she faces.

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    Including the time someone said: "There's nothing wrong with him, he's just a kid!"

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    In 2010 she had this showdown with her employer.

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    And she is searingly honest about the worries she has for Jase:

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    Kimberly admits it's been a struggle, but says retelling the story has been therapeutic. She tells us:

    I would say making this account has helped me. I have made many friendships and so many people have reached out to me. It has helped to know that people have been through what I've been through. It helps to know I'm not alone.

    I went back in time with these Vines, Back to 2010 when Jase was 2. Jase is now 6 years old. He is doing very well, but every day is a struggle. Always new obstacles for us to overcome.

    I thought these Vines would be helpful for me, but having to relive these moments takes a lot out of me. I really remember how I felt then, and those feelings never really go away. What really helps me is when others reach out to me. They keep me strong. They tell me their stories and that is what makes me keep going.

    But the story is not all about struggle. After Jase turns 2, Kimberly feels there's a breakthrough:

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    "I need to start from scratch with Jase ... Start from scratch means I need to stop seeing Jase as what I wanted but as what he is. Smart, loving, and in need of guidance and help," she says in the Vine description.

    "It's like he's an alien — he's come down to earth and he wasn't born with the stuff we take for granted," she says in the next Vine.

    Kimberly resolves to teach him about the world in a way he'll understand.

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    Although it works, it doesn't take long for him to regress and forget when he's learned.

    But before long he learns to water the plants and help with the cooking, putting a sticker on his chore board every time he completes a task.

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    There are moments of real happiness. Like when she sat down with Jase next to the tumble dryer – he loves the vibrations – to get "the sweetest second of affection".

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    Jase loves music and singing – one of the ways Kimberly connects with him.

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    And this.

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    Kimberly's posts have certainly hit a nerve. She sometimes re-Vines people who have filmed themselves crying after hearing her story.

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    Parents of children with mental health conditions have praised Kimberly's honesty and bravery.

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    There aren't many Vine accounts that provoke this kind of reaction.

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    Jase has made fantastic progress, and from saying his first word aged 5, now aged 6, he's reading Dr Seuss books.

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    This is some of his artwork.

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    As well as an advocate for parents of autistic kids, Kimberly is an artist and an all-round Vine star, with a string of funny posts on her main account.

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    She says: "It definitely helps me to have two accounts, separate from each other. I learned a long time ago that I cannot let autism consume my entire life (although that is inevitable sometimes). I need something for me, I have hobbies, I have a wonderful relationship, and I have a daughter. The same goes for Vine — I like to have an outlet to share my story, and an outlet to have fun and goof around."

    Despite all Jase's progress, things can still be tough, but Vine has helped Kimberly connect with people facing the same challenges, she says:

    Right now, we are still dealing with a lot. The school system, battling for at-home services, back and forth to therapies, trying desperately to help Jase communicate, neurologist appointments — and I'm trying to learn more and more about how I can help him.

    I love that people enjoy Nothing Is Wrong, when they make Vines saying how much they appreciate this account. This is my favorite part of having this account: I get to meet many new people and we can connect on a deeper level.

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