At 18 I met my husband and his 18 month old nephew, Zach. Zach and I had a special connection. We were inseparable even though there was something different about him. His speech was advanced for his age but he wouldn't play with toys appropriately, was afraid of loud noises, and had meltdowns. When Zach was 7, he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.
15 years later, we now have 3 three autistic nephews with varying degrees of functioning. When our little boy, Troy, was born in 2010 we knew there was a chance he would be autistic. At 2 he only had a few words, he wouldn't play with toys appropriately, and loved to wander around doing his own thing. We put him in a regular preschool program prior to his diagnosis. They called me at least once a week to come get him because he wouldn't cooperate in classroom activities. Eventually, we were told he could not attend this school anymore. I was finishing my Master's degree and this was a major setback. I decided it was time to get help and find out if he was on the spectrum. He was officially diagnosed with autistic disorder, and this fall he is attending a developmental preschool class that will help him get the education he needs. My son is slowly adding to his vocabulary. He is a precocious guy with a sweet, fun personality. The characteristics that make him unique are directly related to autism and I wouldn't change him for the world. Despite having three autistic nephews, the news of Troy's autism sent shockwaves through family and friends. It took time for some people to digest the news and support us, and there are still some who refuse to believe he is on the spectrum. I get critical looks/comments when out with him, but to those who can't look past his autism to see his strengths, they are missing out on an amazing little boy who hasn't even begun to show us the great things he will be able to do. I have hope for Troy!
Knoxville, TN
