Salvador was born at 24 weeks weighing only 1lb 5oz. For three months he was in the hospital. Other than developing Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) he was healthy. After many surgeries to reattach his retinas, ROP had claimed his eyesight leaving him completely blind. His father and I knew we had a long road ahead.
Sal had services for his blindness since he was a baby, but at the age of three he started changing. Sal was talking less, he started rocking, becoming obsessive about items, and flapping his hands. Relatives with an autistic child would always mention he was just like their son when he was that age. This prompted us to take him to the Dr. for an evaluation. Every evaluation was the same. Blind children exhibit many of the same characteristics of autistic children and Dr's would inform us he was fine. We always felt Sal was different. He was not a typical blind child as he had many quirks. Deep down we knew something else was going on. Our persistence paid off and at the age of five we received a diagnosis of Autism. Our suspicion proved correct and some relief fell over us.
Sal's behavior got him kicked out of his kindergarten class for the blind. We were devastated and worried he would fall far behind. Thankfully, he was placed in a school specializing in language disorders and autism. Within three months he knew the Braille alphabet and was playing the opening song, on a grand piano, at the school's annual play. He still attends this school today.
Sal is 10 now and a bright young man. He is a mentor to another blind and autistic student in his class. He remembers EVERYTHING! Nothing gets by his ears! He talks non-stop and is full of questions. He is working on his independence, his obsessions, non-sense talk, rocking, and hand flapping. This seems like so much to some, but to us he is a miracle in more ways than one! His differences are our norm and our family and friends wouldn't have it any other way!
Peoria, AZ
