My name is Andrea and my son Matthew (age 5), has autism spectrum disorder formally known as Aspergers. He also has ADHD.
I got pregnant with Matthew at the young age of 16. He was a healthy baby boy, small but healthy. As he started to get closer to one, I began to realize that he wasn't reaching milestones as fast as the kids at his daycare. Matthew is very repetitive. I would take him to parks and wonder why he would only go up and down the stairs. Over and over again. I also started to notice whenever Matthew got excited he would shake his hands in a way I've never seen. He would act out in weird ways towards other kids, sometimes being aggressive. And instead of a blankie, Matthew simply wanted a clothes hanger, which he would spin and spin, like a steering wheel until he went to sleep. My grandmother, who worked with the school district, got him enrolled into early headstart when he was one. The more the teacher would come to the house for his appointments, the more she was also convinced something wasn't right. That's when we decided to call in AEA. We went through all the appointments with them and a few tests but they wouldn't diagnose him because they weren't doctors. They did say that he learned like a kid with autism and showed many characteristics of kids with autism. When he went to pre-k, he was put in a special classroom. There he would see occupational therapists and the school psychologist, who would help him find ways to manage his outbursts. That same year we finally were able to see a doctor and get a diagnosis. He's been on meds since.
Its hard to explain to people who don't have a kid with autism why my kid acts the way he acts. He has been left out, and called weird but he's still so loving and friendly. He's a special boy, I've never met anyone like him, but that's what makes Matthew, Matthew. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Andrea
Sioux City, IA