Stories of Hope

Eric's Story

When Eric was 4 weeks old we used to comment about what a "watcher" he was. He watched his swing move back and forth the ceiling fan spin and he had an undying love for Mickey Mouse. We used to say that it looked like he was studying and taking things apart with his mind the way he looked at things. We used to kid about how he wasn't like other babies, didn't waste time on toys, instead preferring to shred magazines or swing. Or destroy things. He was just different, for reasons we did not know. At 9 months old he wasn't crawling and we were referred to early intervention, at which time he did not qualify, at 13 months old he was referred again and he qualified for speech. He had a great caring speech therapist. I know early intervention gets a lot of flack, but she truly was great. We had suspected Autism since I left his evaluation and went home and googled. "Acts deaf, but isn't" and Autism kept popping up. As the husband and I were reading through the "symptoms" we had a sinking pit in our stomachs. We called and made an appointment with our pediatrician for the next day. Who also said he had concerns, 7 months later we were in the developmental specialist office, who said it was just a speech delay, 6 months after that she said speech delay for sensory integration issues. We eventually packed up and moved to another state, finally got his severe Autism diagnosis. We will continue to immerse ourselves into as much therapy as we can possibly afford and see what happens, only time will tell. He is still our crazy little boy, who just happens to be non verbal, and ridiculously smart. And a little different. But, in the end. He's still just Eric. Autism doesn't define him and it never will . It's only a small part of who he is. And he is awesome. :)

Britney Keck
Bartlesville, OK

Hope in every session

This is my story of how I have hope. I have been working with children for over 15 yrs
I have provided ABA, family therapy, taught early childhood education and brought in early interventions.
I have provided therapy to children as well as young adults, in groups, with siblings and individually.

I have seen progress, sometimes it's small, sometimes it's powerful!
But it happens and I am honored to be part of it.

Here are some successful moments I have been proud to have been witness to:
The 10 yr old who for the first time learned to hug his mom without a meltdown
The 22 yr old who has been in a 8 month long romantic and wonderful relationship
The siblings who now better understand why their brother/ sister behaves and has empathy and insight
The parents who have humor and happiness because they have heard others and now feel connected to others
The child who no longer is fearful of animals but instead embraces them
The child who had no friends, and now has 5!
The parents who give their knowledge to other parents
The children who developed social and emotional skills and helped each other through trauma.

Each amazes me, not one visit is the same. Whether it may seem insignificant to have an interactive conversation, that once consisted of two words or repetitive questions.. It is one of the most powerful and hopeful moments I have experienced.

I never give up hope, hope that these kids will one day have a career, job, attend college, get married
And do things they love and enjoy.
It takes one person to rise above and surround these kids with hope and
Offer change and alternatives, choices.
When one has hope others tend to follow, if you continue to believe it is possible.

April S.
Bristol, CT

Our Story...

Our son, Noah, is two and a half years old. When he was a year old he was hitting all of his milestones beautifully, then things changed. By his 18 month check up he only had about three words. He had stopped saying things he had said before, started having melt-downs, had an increased sensitivity to certain sounds and textures. By this time he had completely stopped eating anything from a spoon. Our pediatrician mentioned Autism but said Noah may just be a little behind. At his two year check up his doctor told us that he thought Noah was showing signs of Autism and referred him to First Steps and he started working with a developmental therapist. He wanted to see him again in six months. At the next check up he told us he was 99% sure Noah is Autistic and wanted to send him for testing. I can't put into words how that felt. That was over a month ago and we are still waiting to get an appointment for testing. In my area it is a long process just to get that appointment. No matter what the results determine, I am so blessed to be Noah's mom. It has been an emotional roller coaster and the waiting game is killing us. But, the out pour of love and prayers from strangers who have been in my shoes is so amazing. The people that have been put in our life because of whatever Noah is going through have been a blessing. I never really knew anything about Autism until I was forced to because of my amazing son, but I am grateful for all that I have learned and whether Noah is diagnosed or not the Autism community will always be very near and dear to my heart.

Anonymous
Corydon, IN

Back then they didn't know..

In retrospect, had I understood earlier in life that I was "different" I may not have pushed myself to accomplish all that I have to this point in life. I was often told by my grandmother, that I was like a sponge, always waiting to soak up new information. Don't let someone take that away from you...soak it up learn and be the best you that you can become. In spite of my "differentness" I went on to push myself through school, through to college, jumping full on into life. Becoming a wife, a mother and later a grandmother. All this never really knowing that I have ASD. I did not know that I was living in my own private world because my grandmother held me so securely within hers and my family's. There were many things I felt I could not do..like socialize among the "usual suspects" called my peers...but if you handed me a pen and paper, or paintbrush and canvas...I could paint a world of beauty. I could not seem to get the knack of talking to people on the telephone, but I had a voice that needed to be heard...so I taught myself to play instruments, to sing..thereon writing over 300 songs. Music was my way to learn and thanks to a great many people, it was given me as a tool in so many parts of my life. I was able to go on to become a minister for the young...While living in Maryland I directed a program geared especially to "special need - special ability" youngsters so that they had a place of belonging as well.
There is never a time when it feels right to say "You Can't" but rather..."DO because it is what you do". Life is not easy..but if it were to be..I think that is when I would question all around me and ask.."What is this place?"
Autism is who I am, and if I can make a difference for someone else to live in this world...then I want to give it a try. Fifty seven years and counting.

Reverend Doreen Arsenault
Athol, MA

It isn't all roses, that is for sure.

Autism isn't just a bunch of misunderstood kids as some people like to make it out to be. How have I been touched by autism? My autistic son has been kind enough to give me; a busted foot, bruises, holes in the walls, onset of reclusiveness, CPS called by onlookers who don't know what is going on as my child is in the middle of a meltdown in public, anything nice or new gets broken...and the light at the end of the tunnel is merely a dead end sign on the fritz that tells me I have to turn around and try another way out of this endless tunnel of hell.

Samantha Ames
Springfield, OR

God's Gift of Pure Love

Cody's story begins April of 2004. He came into the world a week late, tongue tied and less than a week later already seeing the doctor for reflux.But he was mine and he was beautiful! Being a first time mother, I really had no clue how to keep calm enough to see through feeding challenges and keeping up with the laundry. After his 6 month milestone, everything calmed down. Now, get to enjoy the miracle that God gave me. He hit all his milestones normally. He even was saying a couple of words by age 2. That's when his journey really starts. One day I noticed a change in my son. He couldn't communicate anymore. He was throwing tantrums everyday because of his frustration. I also noticed how odd he was playing with his cars. After talking with a mother who has a daughter with autism, she convinced me that Cody should be evaluated. At age 2 1/2, Cody was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. Surprising to everyone I know, I didn't feel any dread. I went into action instead. But I did not treat him any different. He was still normal to me. Over the course of the years, Cody's challenges in development never brought him down. He started talking at age 4. His first words were please and thank you! LOL. I give him my unending support and love. I still praise God for giving me the privilege for raising such a special boy. He has the purest heart and his heart is huge! He is always thinking of others. Very curious but doesn't judge others. He is also the biggest car fanatic I know! He tells me that he loves me at least a billion times a day. He has made it very far and continues to improve. So proud of my little guy :-) I thank God for my special guy. I have never wished he was "normal", he is perfect the way he is. :-)

Jan
Gresham, OR

He's Normal to Me.

For as long as I can remember, I always heard people talking about how my little brother was different. He didn't play with other kids, didn't start talking till he was 3 years old and he sat in the corner with a string and bounced it around while humming to himself. But he was happy.

When he started school, I always heard everyone say that he never had any friends and his humming was starting to disrupt other kids. Even though I was young, I had always noticed the doctors and special teachers around all the time for him.

Sooner or later, I learned that my brother was what they called "autistic". It was only when I got to grade 4, and we began to share a school. He was in grade 1 now. I had seen him once at recess and he was playing all alone, but he didn't look sad about it. He was still happy.

When he got to grade 4, I was in grade 6 and it was only then when I started hearing other kids call him weird. This bothered me. What were they talking about? My brother wasn't weird! He had these cute little things of his own that made him my brother, and with his great marks and little knacks for math I think he's the smartest person in the world.

Maybe he thinks a little differently then you, but I'd like to see you last a day in his head.

There is nothing wrong with my little brother.
He's all I know. If your brother is the kind that bugs you, gets into your things, invades your space and has lots of friends over then your brother is 'weird' to me.
My brother is perfect,
he has always been normal to me.

Daniel McKnight
Ontario, Canada

My very special gift!

I knew Siena was having learning problems when she did not responded to her name. After an ECI evaluation a bunch of test, last summer at 18 months old Siena was diagnosed with autism. All my dreams as a parent were falling apart, I did not know what to do or where to start, but I wanted to help her right away. After checking insurance coverage I was hopeless. ECI and their amazing team put together a plan and with the help of BRENT WOODALL FUNDATION and her teachers at the daycare where I work too, in just a couple of months Siena started to make baby steps and those baby steps are getting stronger. From non verbal, poor eye contact, banging toys all day, no pointing or clapping or just not followed a simple instruction to recognize ALL the ABC's, colors, shapes numbers 1to 12, playing with toys and label over a 100 things (animals, objects)

Is not easy, is a everyday challenge and We know we have a long way to go but the combination of early intervention, hard work, the amazing team (teachers, ECI and Brent woodall) the dedication, LOVE, hope and the most important one believe in Siena is making things easier.

took me not long time to understand GOD choose me because He knew it Siena need a special parent because she is a special gift, so a feel very special!

Thank you for taking your time to read our story full of hope and remember we are not alone, we have to help each other to put ALL THE PUZZLE PIECES TOGETHER.

Maria

Maria
Frisco, TX

not knowing for 18 years

Hello, my name is annalise entwistle from the united kingdom, i am 19 years old, i lived 18 years without knowing i was autistic, i struggled to communicate in school and college and struggled with keeping friends and learning. I was told i could be dyslexic but wouldnt test because i was leaving school, i am living a life like i did before my diagnosis, i have currently got a job working with learning and physical disabilites and i want inspire people like me xan be like everyone else and achieve what i have. I always want to be accpeted by people my age but still dont i have one friend who has stuck by me and understands my disability since we were 14 she helps me in situations i cant cope with, i would like to share my story and say anything possible nothing is inpossible

Annalise Entwistle
leeds, United Kingdom

Living with Autism

For most of my life I lived not knowing that I had autism whatsoever. I know for some time I would be shy while growing up and had speech impediment. Never knew exactly why I had this even as I entered in my teens and all. It wasn't until I was around 15 to maybe 16 when I had a doctor's appointment. My mother had asked the doctor about it and he had came to the conclusion that it was autism. I wasn't sure what to make of it and never really told anyone outside the family for quite some time. I even started up writing freelance with Game Guides and Game Reviews on the gaming site GameFAQs. For nearly 12 years I never even had told any of the usual writers on there that I had it and when I had mention of it, not sure they knew what to make of it. I still write them today as in the past year I been trying to get back in the habit of writing them again. Having autism never stopped me from doing that and enjoy doing so.

Stephen Harris
Prattsburgh, NY