What's the world like through the eyes of innocence? Somewhere over the spectrum I see the wonder of a world not tainted by ignorance and hatred; a world where superheroes exist and fairy tales really can come true. Children give us a unique opportunity to regain this magic.

"Daddy," queried my nineteen year old son. "What's Santa Claus going to bring you for Christmas?"

"Let's see," speaking of himself in the third person, Cade answered his question. "Santa will bring you Batman, Superman and Justice League toys."

"Wow Cade!" I exclaimed. "You must have been a good boy this year."

"Yeah," he so proudly agreed.

"Daddy, what does Santa bring you if you're nice?"

"What Cade?"

"A bag of toys." Joy beamed from his eyes as he replied. "Daddy, what does Santa bring you if you're naughty?"

"What Cade?"

"A bag of poo."

Although physically an adult, Cade remains a child. Autism may have robbed him of an ordinary life but Cade has taught me extraordinary lessons. Throughout the past two decades Cade has been the most fascinating person that I've known. He has been a superhero, explorer, spy and a space ranger. His adventures were always alluring to a man that settled for a boring job in banking. I must admit, his space ranger days always kept me on edge.

When Cade was just two years old and plotting travel to the far reaches of the galaxy, one small step for man became one giant leap from the couch. Moments later we found ourselves in the emergency room with a fractured arm. That night, while my astronaut was fast asleep, I did what most parents would do. I painted his cast to resemble the beloved Buzz Lightyear's arm.

"Perhaps I should have gone with that annoying purple dinosaur," I thought to myself as Cade shouted, "To infinity and beyond."

While Cade may have been sure of his ability to fly, I wasn't sure of my ability to explain another visit to the hospital. So to protect him from the perils of space travel, I turned our couch upside down.

Throughout Cade's elementary school years he attended school with typical children. Although he spent most of his day in classrooms devoted to students with autism, his remaining time was spent in moments of inclusion. Inclusive classrooms place children with disabilities side-by-side with their non-disabled peers. Through inclusion children learn acceptance. They are given the opportunity to realize that despite their differences, they're all pretty much the same. And instead of forming judgement and fear, they form friendships.

Years later the end of fifth grade approached and it was time for Cade to find a new school. Cautiously we looked over the middle and high school options that were presented. Webb Street School came highly recommended by Cade's teacher and several others. Webb Street provided a learning environment for students ages 5-22 with intellectual disabilities.

"At this age kids can become cruel," we were advised. "Mr. Melerine, if you send Cade to one of these other schools he will become a drug mule. However, at Webb Street he will be with his peers. He will be with those that understand and appreciate him. At Webb Street he can be himself."

Determined that Cade should never compromise being himself nor carry narcotics up his rectum, we enrolled him in Webb Street School. Webb Street was a happy place filled with exceptional children. The school did everything they could to protect the students from the perils of the outside world. At Webb Street being different was not only accepted, it was encouraged.

"Why would anyone harm such beautiful beings?" I often wondered.

The answer is "ignorance." Ignorance causes individuals to somehow feel that they're better than others. Ignorance doesn't see beauty in things that are different. Ignorance sees fear and fear breeds evil. What does evil look like? It's not zombie-like creatures with decaying corpses like you may imagine. That would be too easy. The vile stench would give it away. Evil lies in faces like yours and mine. Evil is all around us. We let it 'in' when we fail to see the beauty in God's creations. We let it 'win' through things like racism, sexism, homophobia and heartlessness.

I stood guard with the army at Webb Street School. Together we fought to protect those persecuted for being different. And to anyone that thinks they're better than others for some pathetic reason, "You are not smarter than a fifth grader." If there's one thing I've learned from raising a former space ranger it's that on Playground Earth we're all created equal.

Inclusion is in. Ignorance is out.

Kelly Jude Melerine