Stories of Hope

Share your inspiring, hopeful story of how autism touched you.

Dominick's Story

Dominick's Story

Dominick was born a healthy 8 lb 3 oz baby boy .. He was perfect, Dominick was my last child as I have 2 others and my boyfriend has 3 of his own so we were a brady bunch from the beginning.. Dominick's half brother who is 16 also has autism .. When Dominick was a baby he did everything typical all his milestones were on track except when he turned one i started to become concerned why he didn't babble or look at people so I went to his doctor and was told he will catch up not being satisfied with that responds I pushed to see a neuro and sure enough was diagnosed at 14 months with Autism so right there he started Occupational, Speech , 5 days a week until he turned 2 when he started ABA therapy as well so since he was 14 months he is now 3.5 he has had therapies everyday .. When he was 3 he was excepted to the best Autism preschool where he now has group speech and no longer needs occupational he went from zero words to over 100 in just 4 months .. I am now starting to potty train that is a little difficult but he is getting use to .. I have never treated Dominick any different then any of my other kids I always talked to him like I would them and he listens he never really had the typical autism behaviors he has a normal appetite he will eat anything and everything so im hoping when he turns 6 I am taking him to find out what level of Autism he has i have been told he will be high functioning so that was exciting ... Dominick is a sweet , smart funny little boy he loves playing ball , on his ipad and watching mickey mouse he is amazing ...I will say ABA therapy has been the most successful therapy of them all and I would say no matter what age all autistic children should have this therapy it is truly amazing ..

Tina
Miramar, FL
MY LIFE WITH AUTISM~ ^^ ( continued...) 'MY REFLECTIONS'

MY LIFE WITH AUTISM~ ^^ ( continued...) 'MY REFLECTIONS'

When I think about all the experiences of other children and adults with Autism and Aspergers, I always thought that we're different, but, my Mom told me how we are in common. She says, "Autism is like a different flower". And just recently, she made me watch a short video about a boy who has Autism, and how he struggles to learn at school with his classmates. I reflected on the story with my Mom, as it relates to how I feel, and how others like me feel about it too. I think that others should treat us equally, so that in the future years, maybe it can help us face the world without fears. That's why my Mom helped me to always remember to 'Focus on my Abilities, not my Disability'. I survived through bullying, each day, but my Mom guided me all the way, and always encouraged me to face my fears. She never gave up. Many people think I'm normal, just because I look normal and was able to talk normally, when they don't really know how I feel. Even in these times, I don't know what to do for my future, what job I want to take, and how I can live on my own someday. I was always with my Mom, but she always tries hard to teach me how to live on my own, in a different way. Even though she's always beside me, and supporting me, she knows that little by little, I can know what to do in my life. She helps me fight for my rights, to get what I need. Since I came to Arizona, my mom researched a lot, and where to find a program that can help me join and volunteer in a group to help me explore places. So then, she found an agency called 'Mountain Health & Wellness', and that's when I joined an Art Group & Food Bank. And it was fun and helpful for me. I learned a lot there, as I made new friends. I hope that others can be inspired as well.

Larissa Marie M. Reyes
Yuma, AZ
Diagnosed with Autism at 13 months old

Diagnosed with Autism at 13 months old

Brendan was eager to entered the world, he came 4 weeks early no complications during birth and he was a healthily 6lbs 3oz. The day we brought him home he was not a normal happy baby. I thought he had colic because he didn't want to sleep and he cried a good part of the day. I would soon find out that he was having GI issues. It took until he was 5 months old for the doctors to get it under control. He was put on a prescription formula called Neocate and that really helped calm his stomach. Right at about 5 months is when I started to notice his strange characteristic and different personality, so I thought. From 5 months to 9 months I just started to video him when he would start acting weird. I would also take notes and list all things I thought that weren't typical behaviors. We took him to our pediatrician and explained and showed her everything we were concerned about and she sent us immediately to a developmental pediatrician. At 10 months the developmental pediatrician gave him the "at risk of autism". We started therapy but unfortunately he was getting worse so at 13 months he received his official "Autism Spectrum Disorder" diagnoses under the DSM V model. From that moment our lives changed forever. I am so thankful we got a diagnoses so early. We have just started the 40 hours a week of Hab M, he also receives ABA therapy, speech therapy, feeding therapy and occupational therapy. I can only hope that with all this therapy he will be a high functioning child by the time school starts. Brendan has taught me to be a better parent and to never taken anything in life for granted. We all love you!

Gina Schroeder
Phoenix, AZ
Into the Unknown

Into the Unknown

The love of our lives came into the world on July 13, 2011. He was a happy and healthy baby, and met milestones just as he should have - rolling, crawling, standing, walking - everything seemed as normal as could be. It wasn't until around 18 months we began showing more and more concern that our son wasn't speaking any words yet, he never progressed past babbling.
At 2 years old we finally received a referral to Nationwide Children's Hospital for an evaluation. We were hopeful for some speech therapy to come from it, but on December 4, 2013, we were given the life changing news that our little Noah was being diagnosed with Autism and Language Disorder.
In the past month and a half since diagnosis I have been through a roller coaster of emotions, from disbelief and denial to inspiration and acceptance. So many little things make so much sense now! Hand flapping (we always thought it was his way to express excitement since he wasn't verbal), limited eye contact (we thought he was just a typical shy/stubborn toddler), stacking and lining up toys, occupied with certain activities much longer than the average two year old, etc.
In the past few weeks we have began speech therapy, occupational therapy, and home visits in hopes that we have the earliest intervention possible for Noah's success through this. We are already noticing improvement in him! He is much more interactive and imaginative in his play, and he is becoming more verbal each day. No words yet, but I feel that 2014 is going to bring us a talking toddler, as well as more autism awareness to the world!

Lori Hollingshead
New Lexington, OH

from the first moment i felt...

from the first moment i felt he was diferent i ask if he was normal, the nurce say i was cracy.
i say to my husban something is wrong i dont whant to be autism, he look to me and say you are cracy.
the time pass and i keep feeling strange and the people stil saying i was cracy, so i ask for a consultación in the CANAM for autistic childrens and i say to my husband im going if you whant go but i am goin whith or whitout you if i have to walk i will but no one will stop me,... and he came whit us.
he was diagnosed whit autism and i cray i was right he has autism. i felt right because i see that i was not a bad mom, i was not spoiling him, there was a reason for his conduct. i felt right because i have a conecction so strong that i know he was saying me i dont feel good and i know it i was inside whit he in his maind i have enter i am part of his life i was... his mom
today i dont Heard his voice but i feel his heart and he knows he can count whith me in the moment he whants.
if i feel something even my husband lisent because he knows i know

vanessa arambula madrazo
mexicali, Mexico
a son like mine

a son like mine

Having a son like mine means...

...making sure that the fettuccine alfredo he ordered is not garnished with parsley, but is completely homogenous in color.

...finding out if a medicine can be flavored before the doctor prescribes it.

...carving out plenty of time for homework and sometimes writing the answers for him.

...explaining figures of speech or euphemisms.

...knowing that a bath may invoke a tantrum if he sees a speck of dirt in the tub and perceives it to be a bug.

...not being offended if he smells everything on his plate before trying it.

...macaroni and cheese is always on the grocery list.

...picking out pants at the store that pull up and down easily without a lot of buttons, snaps or fasteners.

...understanding that there is a difference between "Toy Story", "Toy Story 2" and "Toy Story 3", and not being offended if you are corrected by him.

...being corrected...a lot.

...accepting the fact that hugs may be one-sided sometimes, but he wants them just the same.

...planning ahead and sharing the plan the night before so everyone is on the same page.

...having an expert in the house when it comes to remembering which team is playing which team in football, what the player's number is and who won the last time the two teams faced off.

...never having to wonder what he really thinks.

...laughing every day as honest observations are revealed and shared about the world around us.

...resting in the confidence that "I love you" is always, always sincere.

...loving someone more than you ever thought you could.

Melanie S.
Houston, TX

Gage Me!

There is no "U" missing in the title...just like there is no "U" in the autism experience. It's not about you...it's about the individual labeled as having autism.

A little under 19 years ago, a developmental pediatrician forgot that. At that time, autism was still rarely diagnosed. So the pediatrician, head of his department, informed the mother of the child that her son had severe Infantile Autism and would be institutionalized at some point...she was young and could have more children. The mother recognizing that the pediatrician forgot that this was about her son, not her or society, immediately ignored him. She treated her son with patience, dignity and used their commonalities to bridge communication, teach love, offer hope and learn about HiS dreams.

When the boy named Gage became a teenager he stepped out into the world on his own, a "severely communication impaired" individual and told his church he wished to be baptized. When the pastor asked him to verify his understanding of Christ, this "non-verbal" young man answered in clear, easy English the call...because in the end it's not about "U"...it's about Him.

Althea Conklin
San Antonio, TX
The puzzle

The puzzle

My Son's Name is Nathan. He is 5 Years old. When i found out i pregnant for Nathan I was so excited! Being a mom is the best thing anybody could ask for. my pregnancy was regular just like anyone else. His birth was normal 34 hours of labor. Nathans first year he struggled. he had surgery at the age of 2 weeks. he couldn't eat anything, He though up EVERYTHING!. when Nathan turned 1. i knew something was wrong, he wasn't crawling and he just learned to sit up. I called early intervention that i found on the internet, they came to my house the next day and told me Nathan needed help. Nathan stayed with them for about 3 years. at the age of 2 he was diagnosed with ADHD. i just knew something else was wrong him. Nothing was adding up right. i called all the good doctors out there & everything cost so much money i gave up at that point. until he started school at park-side located in Syracuse NY. his teacher brought it up to me. she told me I need to have him tested. so for 3 years Nathan went though so many therapist and test and doctors, after 3 years of Torcher. Yesterday January 16th 2014. Nathan was diagnosed with aspergers autism. i haven't felt this good since i had Nathan!. He finally can get the treatment he needs for a better future. The puzzle is finally together & is glued!

Kathy Sullivan
syracuse, NY
MY LIFE WITH AUTISM~ ^^

MY LIFE WITH AUTISM~ ^^

As I grew up on the island of Saipan, lots of things happened to me in my childhood, until the day I graduated from High School. It was a long journey full of struggles and memories blended like a fruitshake. On my early age, I was unable to speak until my mom fed me a fried chicken-butt. And somehow it helped me a lot, however, it made me a talkative person. My Father was always kind when my older sister and I were babies, until we grew up, he started to change and drink a lot. He became abusive, then things changed again, and for sure, it was better than before. My older sister was always there for me, and always loved me like no other doll. She was tough, kind, and funny all the way. And finally, my mother, who really helped me a lot. She teaches me lots of things about life and the environment around me, helps me socialize with different people, and helps me with exposure to the world to learn from what going on around me, and to face reality. It helped me adapt to the world as I grew up, to learn more and more, and expand my knowledge. I also thank some of my teachers who helped me a lot in my education, the members of the Autism Society of the CNMI ( ASCNMI ); That's when I met a good friend who also has Aspergers, and God's blessings, who helped me along the way, and gave me strength through my long struggles. In my childhood, I've always been bullied and alone back then. That is why I thank God, my mom, and everyone for helping me a lot. The Lord and my Mother are still helping me to these days, and forever I cherish them in my heart. And now, I always say "GOOEY!" when I'm happy or excited. So, to all the the parents who have children with Autism, never give up teaching them, accept them for who they are, and give them the love that they always need. Thank you!

Larissa Marie M. Reyes
Yuma, AZ
Darion has autism, it doesn't have him

Darion has autism, it doesn't have him

Hi I just wanted to share a brief story about my 17 year old son Darion Powers. He is an incredible boy, that amazes me more and more everyday. I'm not going to say there aren't any struggles everyday lol because boy are there ever LOL. My son was nonverbal until after age 4 and when he did talk , he sounded as if he had a major hearing impairment. Darion would do the "classic" autism things from the flapping, no eye contact, stacking things and organizing everything, to not doing well in crowds, or when someone would try and engage darion in conversation he would just say yes aha OK. he has made some leaps and bounds and slips and falls as well, but he has always had a thing with music. as i stated darion was non verbal until age 4 plus, but he could here a song and sing it not just sing it, but mimic the sound and the words, we had a lil parrot on our hands. though darion loved music he would never sing in front of people or be involved in any chorus or choirs until our new move this last Nov. he started the choir in his new school and loved it , he loved to sing in front of everyone. and now he has decided to audition for The Voice this Sunday January 19. please wish him luck and know that no matter what anyone says you know your children and their potential and just lead them to shine. i hope this will bring a little hope. i cant share a link on here but you can find darion powers page on fb and follow his journey with life and his audition with the voice. maybe some of these videos can show you that you can be anything and do anything you all are shinning stars.

dawn powers
horicon, WI