Stories of Hope

Our Journey With Troy

Troy is our middle son.... I always knew that Troy was different from his older brother, Gavin. Even at almost a year old he showed signs of OCD tendancies. I always joked about it being cute. It wasn't until He was almost 3 and our youngest son, LaWayne, was born that I really started figuring out that Troy was "different". He started havin seizures in March of 2008. No one could tell me what caused them even after all the EEGs and testing that he went through. Preschool and Kindergarten were hard for him. He starting seeing a Psychiatrist in December 2010 and in July 2011 he was officially diagnosed with PDD-NOS and we are still watiing to have him tested for Aspergers. OCD, Social Anxiety, and the PDD-NOS are just the tip of the iceberg for our son. He has many other medical problems as well. He is NEVER treated as "special" and is very high functioning but the people who don't understand still look at him as if he is diseased. Our son is a "normal" child who wants to betreated like everyone else. He is even in Cub Scouts. He likes to go camping and fishing (even though he has the OCD issues) and plays with his brothers. They help him with the imagination part of "normal" playing. Our 2 other sons feel sad at times because they cannot participate in things because Troy cannot tolerate the noise, loudness, people, etc but they have learned to understand. We are still going forward to make sure that he will always be as happy as possible..... It is definitely a JOURNEY that I wouldn't change for the world. I am a Mother Warrior who pushed for answers and Troy is who he is because of this journey.

Desiree Schlichtig
Collinsville, IL

There IS hope

We all hear people tell us that we should not compare our children, but we all do it. At 1 year old, my oldest son had a vocabulary of over 100 words. So when Ben wasn't talking more than just a handfull of words by the time he was 2 yeas old, we knew there was a problem. We were finally aboe to get him evaluated and our suspisions were true. He has Autism. We were devestated. We sondered if our son would ever be able to speak, run, play with other kids, live on his own. We immediately got him into ST, OT and PT. Eventually we got him into ABA Therapy. All of these services were key in his development.

When he started Pre-School, the teachers were getting him out from under the table throughout the day. In first grade, he was still very skittish, but the days of hiding under the table were done, but the days of dealing with meltdowns from fire drills began. By the end of second grade, he had taught himself how to multiply and was reading the same books his 11 year old brother was reading. And in the summer, he played on the football team, making his first touchdown. Now he is the top reader in his grade and the only one in his class that has completed all of the timed math tests and gotten 100 percent.

We NEVER thought these days would come! Yes, there are still meltdowns and daily struggles with social skills, but what incredibel milestones he had made!

Debra Smith
Coupeville, WA

My special little boy

After many years of trying to have a child, I was told at 30yrs. old that I would not be able to concieve a child. To my surprise, at 35, I found out I was pregnant. The doctors were not very hopeful of a viable pregnancy. I had several problems with my pregnancy but, I delivered a 5lb. 11 oz. little boy at 41 weeks. He was healthy for about 4 months and developed RSV and pnemonia. He then was burned with an IV that burned the skin off of his arm and hand. After extensive therapies, he began to recover. At 6 months, he began having seizures. I was starting to lose hope that he would outgrow them. He was behind in his milestones and was not talking at 2 years old. Doctors told me he was mildly retarded and encouraged me to teach him sign language. He excelled in sign and pictures. At 2 1/2, to my surprise, he started talking in complete sentences. At 3 he was diagnosed with autism.He still recieves services, and is thriving every day. I am blessed to have such a special child in my life.

Jessica Majors
Rochester, NY

First things first: Meeting the Autism Diagnosis

In the fall of 2010 we made a visit to the Neuro Development department of our children's hospital at the referral of our family doctor, to begin the evaluation process for Autism for our youngest son Mark, 7 years old at the time. He was scheduled for a full screening, including ADOS testing, speech-language, hearing, vision, I.Q testing and physical exam. We knew there was "something" not quite neuro-typical in his communication and some bodily actions, such as sudden large motion movements like skipping across the room back and forth - back and forth, repetitively so, and not being able to express himself well enough or articulate sentences clearly, or make eye contact; being absorbed in play not seeming to notice anyone coming in or out of the room.

Mark first had a speech delay and when he began to talk he sounded scripted, as if he borrowed the words from a TV program or, as we soon came to realize, the written word. He had somehow taught himself to read by age 4, much to our amazement. He had decoded written language and was reading everything from traffic signs, store signs, billboards and worse...tabloid headlines in the supermarket check out, out loud!

Mark was diagnosed with autism, high functioning, and hyperlexia with above average I.Q. He needed speech-language therapy and possibly some occupational therapy. He has done very well in these therapies for many months now. Because we home school, we are able to focus very directly on Mark's deficits and work into our curriculum and daily routine, methods and practices that help him in several areas of processing such as reading comprehension.

While it is all a work in progress, we are very pleased with Mark's improvements, and grateful to have such good professionals, including therapists helping us.

Denise Laubacher
Minerva, OH

Our Family: Pioneers in Autism

Our son was born in 1962...back when autism was a new word to most everyone--even the doctors. He seemed to develop normally until the age of two and one-half, then slowly regressed. His behavior changed to bizarre, ritualistic routines, and his speech to echolalia (a parrot-like repeating of what was said to him). This was heartbreaking, and we sought out every means of help we could. No one seemed to know the cause, treatment, or cure, and he eventually attended a school for "special" children. At age 13, he began to have "rage-type" upsets that we could not physically handle...so we sadly began the search for a "home away from home" for him. The long story short is that through his problems (he is going to turn 50 on July 4th)...my husband and I both became Christians, counting on Christ alone for our son's care and protection, as well as our own strength and comfort. He has been able to come home for visits of one week to ten days quarterly throughout the years, and he has several jobs at his place of residence that help him feel needed and independent. We praise God for his progress as he has matured, for his sweet nature, (99 & 9/10% of the time) and what he has meant in our lives. When he was small, my husband had said, "Maybe he'll be your comfort in your old age." I thought that to be a ludicrous statement at the time, but I can now say that those words have proved to be prophetic!

Carole Norman Scott
Tulsa, OK

Jackie Moon, My son and savior

I always knew Jack was different than other children.My mother and myself were pregnant at the same time and my sister Ally is 6 weeks older than Jack.Having the two of them grow up so close it was obvious of the differences but I never felt medical intervention was necessary.It wasn't until Kindergarten when his teachers told me of his struggles and problems that I took him to a neurologist.January of 2011, Jack was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder as well as OCD and Anxiety. \With the support of family, friends,his teachers,his psychiatrist and therapist Jack has been improving on so many levels.I know this is only the beginning of the journey and I do everything I possibly can to make sure Jack has every opportunity to be heard and understood.His social skills and speech are his weakness. He is verbal which I am more than grateful for but not very easy to understand I always act as an interpreter for him so people can understand the thought he is trying to get across.Relationships are hard because people don't understand how much area in his life ASD covers.It breaks my heart that everyone doesn't read up on the disorder.I feel the need to learn all I can about it so I can understand my son and help him as best as I can. I am in sobriety and Jack is what keeps me going and is my inspiration to be a better woman and mother.I have extreme remorse and resentment for my actions and behaviors in the past but I can no longer beat myself up over it.I know I am the best mother I can be to Jack and each day both me and him growing.Jack is my son and my savior. Me and Jack against the world <3

Mia
Villas, NJ

My Life with Asperger's Syndrome

My name is Karen, I'm 20 years old, and I live in Alabama. I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (a mild form of autism) when I was 4 years old. I've been spreading autism awareness and inspiring others. I also compete in Special Olympics in swimming since I was 11 years old. I want to be an inspiration to alot of people and don't give up because it will get easier with time and patience. I've overcome alot of challenges in my life and I know that my future is bright.

Karen Willis
Millbrook, AL

jenny's story

My story starts when i am 6 years old me and my folks learn about am autism and they teach me everything i know and if l can find a job and keep it i know others can i not my autism hold me back .

jenny gross
benton, AR

"Our Boys"

The agency I work for in CT opened a Residential Home for boys with Autism ages 10-14. Our model was different than most. We used some ABA but much more Relational Therapy. Our school was a model called "School Without Walls". Our boys all were so adverse to schooling, they threw desks, hid under them, tantrummed, they weren't learning, so we took them into the community to learn. Museums, nature centers etc... and connected them to lesson plans. Within weeks, these boys completely turned around. They engaged in learning, followed up by writing, reading and doing math back at the house. They needed to learn in their own way. As well, our residential was set up as a true home, living room, dining room, bedrooms, kitchen, and the boys became a family with staff.
It is unfortunate that though these boys succeeded, became less agressive and more social, that the State didn't like our model. So, they closed us down. We were criticized for not using visual prompts, not scheduling them every 15 minutes, well, they didn't need that.
I thoroughly believe these boys took away great lessons, that they learn differently, but they can succeed. So, even though it was 4 short months, they hopefully will take with them positive memories, friendships they never had and a belief in themselves.
I hope soon, people will realize that all kids learn differently. All kids deserve the opportunity to be successful, and not everything has to be sterile. What worked in the 70's doesn't necessarily mean it's best now. We miss our guys........

Anonymous
Waterbury, CT

he is my little angel

he is 8 he don't talk. I love him so much when he was born hechad a stroke. he makes life worth living every day. he is improving day by day. he is strong. God blessed me w him.

nichole hernandez
anaheim, CA