Stories of Hope

Speedy

My son Matthew was a very quiet baby when he was in my stomach . When he was a baby he was a little fast with milestones but I started to notice that he would flapped his hands and get very excited when he wanted something. He did say a few words but we notice he had lost them by the time he was 12 months old. In June of 2013 Matthew was diagnose at the age of 2.5 with Autism Spectrum in August. Matthew is one amazing little boy he started last September at a specialize preschool for kids with disabilities and he amazed them all. When he started he was not talking just making a little bit of sounds as the school year went on he started to pick up words and now he is talking a little bit more but we still have times where he goes mute on us. Matthew does a lot of crawling and slapping of the chest. Matthew loves to be in the water and now we understand why he does he likes the deep pressure that he gets from being in the pool. This summer we had put Matthew in a camp with typical kids and he stay the whole time and for that I am proud of him for sticking with it. Matthew is in a martial art class and he does private lessons and we do try to get him with other kids. Matthew is a little boy that sometimes people just look at him because just something like going to a new place can cause a meltdown or stress him to the point that we have to leave.Matthew is very smart boy and a good memory he can take you to places that you took him once and he is great in education part too. He is starting to write with little help he just need the pressure on the pencil to write. He going back to the specialize preschool this year and I am hoping it help him with his social skills and making friends. mommy,daddy,sissy LVU.

Maria Rogers
Georgetown, DE

Paul My "Aurtistic" Step Son

My name is Wendy up until last year I was single mother of three kids until I met a special Man Named Joe Egan also a single father of 2 boys. When I met Joe in my heart I felt he was special as his son Paul Egan and he was he is Autistic now 5 years old. When I first met Paul his eating menu was very limited included bagel bars and peanut butter and Pop Tarts and had lots tantrums. I knew that this relationship would be a challenge but Joe Egan proposed and I said yes, so we decided to blend families totaling our household of 8. Yes 8 because we had one child of our own baby Joseph John Egan born this year May 26.
Blending families has not been an easy transition especially for the little ones but we have managed to overcome many obstacles. One of our great accomplishments is being able to put more items on Paul’s Menu to eat, using positive reinforcement as a whole family also helping him tone down on noise making asking him to work quietly at home so he can be successful at school. Being able to go out to eat to a restaurant is no longer a challenge because we have all worked as a team. Paul has also developed a very artistic skill expressing his creative imagination with a pen and a paper. His father created a site for him to share his work with the world http://aurtista.com/ . Paul is a special Child like his father and I feel lucky to call him my son. My advice to parents is work as family find their talent and let them express themselves! Positive reinforcement and tone is key, but everyone needs to work together and be on the same page as a family.
Don’t forget to check out Paul’s work http://aurtista.com/ and leave him a message you will make an already happy Autistic Boy even More happy!

Wendy Sanchez
Lakeside, CA

Beautiful Soul

My partner first told me he had Asperger's a few months into the relationship. He just casually slipped it into the conversation and awaited nervously for my reply. I had always noticed that he was different but that's what intrigued me about him. He had such a uniqueness that radiated off his every word. I remember calmly telling him 'I will love you no matter what' and I do. I love him Asperger's and all. He has a beautiful soul and he was so relieved that I had accepted him because all his life he had been bullied and shunned which is a real shame for those who turned down the chance to get to know him because he is a wonderful man who is kind, smart, caring, gentle and loving. I am so proud of him and everything he has achieved. I feel like just over the 18 months that we have been together he has blossomed and grown into a more amazing person. He isn't afraid to go out into the world and work and socialise which is great. He isn't going to let his disability bring him down which makes him one of the strongest people I know. He inspires me to the greatest level. We plan to get married one day and have kids. and to all who said that he was 'weird' or 'retarded' or whatever nasty names you called him, He is now inspiring to be someone and get somewhere despite his disability and that makes him a greater person then someone who puts another person down. I am proud of you, Matt and I love you so very much <3

Sally
Sydney, Australia

Jordan's Story

My son Jordan was born on July 9, 2010. Four weeks early and still weighing 8lbs and 21.5 in long! I knew he would be tall like his dad. Jordan was just diagnosed with ASD at age 4. Since he was a baby I noticed he was reaching his milestones later than other kids. When I would bring up my concern I was told over and over that all kids are different and on different timelines. I began to really worry when he turned 3 and he was still not talking. On top of that he had always been the "rough" kid, the "loud" kid, but I knew my baby was not bad. I knew there had to be something else. I enrolled him in an early learning program where they brought up autism concerns after his evaluation. On that program he has blossomed. My baby boy can now talk to me. Although it's still a little hard to understand he is trying so hard! And I am so proud of him. After meeting with his doctor on his 4 year appointment we have been referred to a wonderful team of specialists and we cannot wait to start this journey to better his life. Jordan now has a 3 month old baby brother. Although he has had a hard time expressing sympathy and feelings for people, when his baby brother came home he immediately loved him. It warmed my heart to see him kiss him and hug him and call him "cute" I know my boys will do great things, and with one another's love they will succeed.

Adriana Ramirez
Shelton, WA

Look Deeper

"He just seems off, I don't see why you're with him." This was not uncommon to hear from my family and friends when I started dating my husband. I have always been a social butterfly and it wasn't hard to tell my husband was EXTREMELY shy when it came to being social. However, this didn't stop me from spending every moment I could with him. As months passed, his once wondering eyes focused on mine, and his nervous hands stayed still. At this time he told me he had Aspergers and had been judge his whole life for it. He was told by therapists he would never live outside the home or get married. I've never seen anything, besides the beautiful soul that seemed to match mine so perfectly. We are now married and live in a different state. The day I met him I knew there would never be anyone else. He is my absolute everything............Aspergers and ALL. To those struggling with Aspergers, please know there is someone out there waiting for you, NEVER think otherwise. -Melelupe Johnson

Mele Johnson
St.George, UT

Let It Flow

Maddie is on the Autistic Spectrum. She amazes me each and every day by her tenacity, her empathetic manner where she wants everyone to succeed, and her perseverance. Even though it is a daily struggle to stand up for herself, speak out, and navigate the social world, she does it with grace. She struggles on the inside yet doesn't show it on the outside.

Maddie has always been a hard worker and one to never give up. She accepts challenges, although not always with a smile. She continues to put herself out there and be better than the day before. She is leaving for college...a world that is so different. She knows that she will need to be an advocate for herself and do everything on her own. That's scary for a lot of people I know.

I believe that she will be successful and accomplish this feat with style and grace. Music is her outlet...I hope she enjoys it just as much as a music major. Please listen to her sing. She put 10 different languages together and turned the song "Let It Go" into a lingual work of art. I am so proud of all that she has accomplished.
http://youtu.be/MfHyAe7i2ew

Anonymous
Elk Grove, CA

Autism and me

i am a seventeen year old going into my junior year of high school. I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when I was in the middle of my freshman year. When I was little my parents knew there was something different about me. When I came to them, the doctors told my parents that I would not do anything that most people did. Talking, walking, playing,hearing. Up until two years ago, my parents thought that the reason my social skills and being able to read social cues was because of my vision.

So yes, i have AS, but that's not going to stop me from doing what I want to do in life. I want to be a special Ed teacher. I will go to college and do that. No one will stop me.

DON'T GIVE UP!!! it takes time and patience, but in the end you will have success.

Anjali Holz
Washington, AL

Just To Let You Know

Dear Families,
I have worked with children on the spectrum for about 15 years now. I remember each of your children and what is special about them. Maybe it is special in a different sense of how the world defines special but to me and others in the class each child brings us joy, happiness , challenges, frustrastion , and pushes us to use our own skills outside the box and grow from every challenge. I have learned more about myself and how to use my senses to their fullest to be able to help some of the "hardest" kids . These kids are definetly my favorite . I love to watch the little sideways glances while their minds are turning whatever scheme is coming next!
I think about you and your child/children over school breaks. I know it will be HARD. I think about you when you have to take your kid to the doctor or dentist or a haircut.
Please know that while your child is in school , they are loved and cared for like they are our own. I know you worry , so would I. Everyone worries about their kids but you have to worry more with your non-verbal baby that you entrust with someone. I don't take that trust lightly.
I wrote this since it's back to school time and I know that there must be butterflies in some tummies. We work soooo hard everyday to teach and build trust with your child for the best learning situation. I hope this helps .
With much love and respect,
A Special Ed Classroom Assistant

Beverly
El Cajon, CA

hockey

a brief bit about me im 15 years old i play ice and roller, a lot of people did not think possable has i have partial vision in one eye, dysprexia,asd, but im into my 3 rd season now at playing roller and have just been accepted into sheffield under 16s ice and loving every minute of it i know i will never be a class player but i love what i do and it gos to show if you believe in your self anything is possable

travis
rotherha, United Kingdom

Reece isn't broken

Reece had many of the typical issues for an autistic child but I reacted with anger anytime it was even brought up. There was nothing wrong with him! He wasn't broken & didn't need to be fixed! He was my perfect son! Why couldn't everyone see that? In reality I was doing everything possible to keep my own eyes shut. Reece struggled to keep anything down as a baby & we tried formula after formula. He stayed in & out of doctors offices and hospitals with various illnesses during his first year. He walked & talked on target, but had a speech impediment that made him very difficult to understand. He struggled making eye contact, obsessed over certain things, had no concept of personal space, and loud noises put him in pain. He constantly moved, flapped his hands, and had a twitch with his fingers that was always there. He struggled through four years of school before I finally accepted that a diagnoses I knew was coming didn't mean he was broken, and our pediatrician sent us to a specialist in Nashville TN.

I actually left his appt. when we got a definite diagnoses with relief in my heart. I knew that we could finally get Reece the help he needed to learn how to deal with Autism, & we would learn what we needed to help him. Reece is now 9 and in the 4th grade. He graduated from speech last year & gets to participate in a special class at his school that works on learning social skills. He still knows everything there is to know about the things he is interested in (Dinosaurs, Sea Creatures, and Godzilla at the moment) & still has his finger twitch but he has friends & I don't have to beg him to look at me when I want to take his picture anymore. He has always been kind, smart, funny, and sensitive - that hasn't changed. Reece is not, & never was, broken.

Jerina Edwards
Murray, KY