My two sons are all grown up now.
我的兩個(gè)兒子如今都已經(jīng)長(zhǎng)大成人

They are 32 and 27 years old this year.
一個(gè)32歲，一個(gè)今年27歲了

Yet they both still have the minds of children.
然而，在心智上他們都還像是孩子

Autism has limited their intellectual growth over the years
多年來(lái)，孤獨(dú)癥限制了他們的智力發(fā)育

and they still need to be looked after
他們?nèi)孕枰蝗丝醋o(hù)

24 hours a day,
一天24小時(shí)

7 days a week.
一周7天

When I was a boy
當(dāng)我自己還是個(gè)小男孩的時(shí)候

the term used for people like my sons
對(duì)那些癥狀和我兒子類似的人

was Mentally Retarded.
人們慣用的說(shuō)法是，智力發(fā)育遲緩

By the time I was an adult
當(dāng)我成為成年人之后

the term had switched to Mentally Handicapped.
這種病癥的說(shuō)法變成了智力殘疾

Later
隨后

this was changed again to Mentally Challenged.
稱謂又變成了，智商收到挑戰(zhàn)的人

None of these terms truly defined them, however.
不過(guò)，這些說(shuō)法都不能準(zhǔn)確的定義他們

They are so much more than these labels.
他們的人性比這些人格標(biāo)簽要豐富的多

These days
如今

the newest term is
最新的說(shuō)法是

people with Special Needs.
有特殊需要的人

I like this one better than the older ones,
比起那些老舊的說(shuō)法，我更喜歡這一個(gè)

because it is not only kinder
因?yàn)樗粌H更加友善

but more accurate.
也更加準(zhǔn)確

My sons do have Special Needs
我的兒子們確實(shí)有特殊需要

but they also have Special Gifts.
但他們也有特殊的天賦

My oldest boy may only be able to talk about certain things.
我的大兒子或許只能說(shuō)出關(guān)于特定事物的少數(shù)字詞

Autism has limited his learning and interests.
自閉癥已經(jīng)限制了他的學(xué)習(xí)能力和興趣培養(yǎng)

But when he greets people by name
但他也會(huì)記住親友的名字，并且對(duì)他們打招呼

there is a contagious happiness in his mood and manner.
他的情緒和性情里都有一種具有感染力的幸福感

He gives out love
他會(huì)給予愛(ài)

and hugs far more freely than I do.
他豪無(wú)掛礙的擁抱別人，比我更欣然如此

And he always leaves the people he meets feeling better.
他總能讓遇到他的人得到安慰

My youngest boy doesn’t speak much at all.
我的小兒子少言寡語(yǔ)

He is lost in his own world most of the time.
大多數(shù)時(shí)間，他都沉浸在自己的世界里

Sometimes he even has fits
有時(shí)他會(huì)突然爆發(fā)情緒

where he will cry
會(huì)哭鬧

and hit himself.
會(huì)打自己

But he also has an ability for laughter and joy
但他也會(huì)歡笑，也有喜悅

that is far beyond anything I possess.
這樣的歡笑和喜悅比我擁有的任何東西都要珍貴

Often
時(shí)常

after he finishes crying
當(dāng)他哭完了

his happiness will immediately return
他的幸福感也會(huì)立刻回來(lái)

where I would be lost in a mood for hours.
而我則會(huì)接連幾個(gè)小時(shí)沉浸在悲傷的情緒之中

In truth
事實(shí)上

my two Special Needs sons
我兩個(gè)有特殊需要的兒子

have taught me more about how to live
教會(huì)了我如何生活

and how to love
如何去愛(ài)

than I could have ever learned on my own.
比我自己一生所能學(xué)到的還要多

The fact is
事實(shí)上

all of us in this life have Special Needs.
生活中每一個(gè)人都有特殊的需要

All of us also have Special Gifts.
每一個(gè)人都有特殊的天賦

It is up to us
我們有義務(wù)

to share our Gifts.
用自己的天賦與他人分享

It is up to us
我們有義務(wù)

to meet each other’s Needs.
滿足彼此的需要

It is up to us
我們有義務(wù)

to treat each other with kindness and love.
用善意和愛(ài)對(duì)待對(duì)方

Remember,
記住

we are all one family here.
我們是世界上的一家人

We are all Children of the same mother nature.
我們都是大自然母親的孩子