At age 4 my beautiful daughter was almost expelled from pre-kindergarten. That's where it all began. We fought diagnoses and medication for everything from ADHD, anxiety, bi-polar, oppositional defiant disorder and at least four more. She began to struggle so bad that she was removed from the public school system at age 6. She then ended up in a mental facility for 3 days because the medication drove her over the edge. Finally I found someone after having had 3 full neuropsychological assessments, 5 counselors and 3 psychologists in addition to the assessments, that was willing to consider autism as a possibility. Finally she was eligible for a proper autism evaluation and there was no more doubt. Sadly though she was diagnosed shortly after her 8th birthday making her ineligible for any state supported care. We have since been able to get her into some supportive programs. She is back in school. Working through a self contained program. She has become so much better socially adjusted and I have learned so much from her. We call autism her "special ability" (she thought of that) and she is doing amazingly well. We cycle sometimes but thanks to my beautiful daughter I have learned so much and her and I have become serious advocates in our community.

Jennifer
Green Bay, WI