When Sammy was younger he talked, walked, and lined things up. He developed, but slower than his older sister Abby. I kept telling myself that he was just slower and that I shouldn't compare the two. My mom who is in this picture with my son knew something was wrong. She kept telling me to take him to be checked for autism but I didn't want to believe that it was true. I had limited knowledge of autism and was very scared and a little embarrassed that my child wasn't "perfect". I took him to the dr and to specialist and he indeed was autistic. He has PDD NOS. He wasn't talking much and it was hard for him to learn things. We enrolled him in Head Start at his school east heights. There he became part of a wonderfull class experience with wonderful teachers in the TEACH classroom. He is going on his fifth year! He talks and talks now and if i ever get frustrated with him talking so much I stop close my eyes and smile and remember when I didn't think he'd be able to communicate with us at all. I am thankful and blessed with my "perfect" son and my daughter and family. He is such a blessing. He knows he is special needs and tells everyone he can that he is special. He wears that label as a badge of honor not a badge of shame. He knows that God made him the way he is and that he indeed is a blessing to all of us!

Billie Jo Davies
Henderson, KY