At 3 and a half years old I was diagnosed with Autism. My parents didn’t know what to think or how to help me at first. All my parents knew about this condition was what Rain Man displayed. My parents had to go through hard changes to get me to act like children my age. I had years of therapy for speech and behavior, until I was 14 years old. In fact I spent 3rd through 5th grade in Rio Vista Elementary School in a single classroom for Special Ed students. Even though we were not learning all the things that kids our age were learning, our teacher, Mrs. Olson refused to give up on us and believed in educating us at all costs, even if our school wanted to baby us.
After I graduated 5th grade Mama, Papa, and I came across a small private middle school known as Messiah Lutheran School. What concerned my parents the most was that there was no Special Ed there; this was regular education. I wanted to go anyways, the only problem was because I did not have the same education as a regular 5th grader I would have to take it all over again; I agreed to it. For the next four years I stayed at this school and learned how to take notes, interact with other students, and get familiar with change.
Then it was time for high school; I went to Grant High and took mainstream classes – with the exception of Social Skills class and at the end of the first year I aced all my classes - even math. By 12th grade, colleges were calling my name! I graduated in 2013 and made a speech which I put on YouTube: Bonnie O'Connor Think Different. I am enrolled in LA Valley College right now and plan to transfer to a University (not sure which one yet), and I have worked three different jobs separately. I am 19 years old now and I don't believe disabilities have to destroy your dreams or goals. When you fall you can back up.
North Hollywood, CA