SPECIAL CHILD SUCCESS STORY: My daughter, Aimee, is autistic.

She didn t talk and would not give me any eye con tact. I had traveled to visit my mother, and before I left, I had purchased pull -ups for nighttime, but I forgot to bring them. It was evening and Aimee had some orange juice. She gave me the sign language fo r more. I then said (more or less to myself rather than her), "Oh, I forgot the pull-ups. I m afraid if you have too much to drink you ll wet the bed. I should ve bro ught them." She continued to sign "more." I continued to mutter. Finally, she lo oked me in the eyes, and fervently said, "I," pointing to herself, "want more," giving sign for more, "or-ange juice, please." Needless to say she got her juice ! - L.T., Hamilton, NJ I am not a parent, but a proud older sister of a 15-year-old brother who is blin d and autistic. As a child, Meir would constantly get upset when something would bother him. Getting upset included screaming uncontrollably and getting complet ely out of hand. With the loving and constant guidance of my parents, Meir (even though he has a long way to go), expresses himself way better than before. - S. S., Brooklyn, NY My youngest son, Brayden, was born three months premature with heart and brain d efects. He is now 4 years old. He is multi-handicapable. When he was young, the doctors told us he probably wouldn't survive, much less ever sit, walk, talk, or eat. He began eating orally a year and a half ago. He began talking one year ag o, and is now nearly age appropriate in expressive communication! The most excit ing accomplishment, however, is his walking. He had a bilateral tendon release o n his hamstrings and gastrocs last November. Since recovering from the surgery, he began pulling to stand, cruising furniture, and could take up to 6 independen t steps, even without his walker! Only other parents of children with special ne eds can understand the intense emotion that surrounds such feats! Now, he is walking around the house with little assistance and now able to squat to pick something up and stand up again without help!! I cannot wait for the da y that he can walk up to those nay-saying doctors and show them who is really in charge!! - J.B., Bartlesville, OK My almost 7-year-old is only about 4 months in her development and very tiny (th e size of a 15-month-old). She has never done anything "age appropriate" til now ... she just lost her first tooth and has 3 more loose ones, just like a "normal " 6-year-old. It's funny to see my family so excited about something so small to most people. - J.J., Denton, MD I would like to share with you my story of my son. "S" was born at 26 weeks gest ation weighing 880 grams (1 lb. 15 oz). After 81 days in the NICU and a typical course of being a preemie with all of their complications, he came home weighing 4 lbs. 3 oz. Such a joy! He received early intervention services for a time, bu t was discharged after about a year because he was hitting his developmental mil estones and seemed to be on track. When he was 18 months old, we were in a car wreck which left him a low-level qua driplegic. After five months of the ICU, rehab, and another stay in the ICU, he came home. Such a joy! He again received early intervention services under a new diagnosis and later was transitioned into the school system for services. He ha s since had multiple hospitalizations for pneumonia, seizures, and surgeries (th e most recent being anterior and posterior spinal fusion). "S" is now 13 years old and a Boy Scout Second Class. Two weeks ago he was induc ted into the National Junior Honor Society - SUCH A JOY! I am very proud of my s on! - A.S., Fredericksburg, VA

My son, Christian, was born with a genetic anomoly (2p+) and has since been diag nosed with autism. My wife and I went through the typical grieving and realignme nt of our own expectations through his younger years. Through all of the doctors , teachers and therapists, we have asked for just one blessing for our family: W e prayed that he would be able to communicate with us. We moved to Houston a couple of years ago and enrolled him in the school program . He has a teacher that loves him dearly and several assistants that take except ional care of him. His language skills had blossomed from a single word to sever al one-word responses in a short period of time. One weekend, my wife had left t own to attend a family wedding, and I had stayed behind with Christian and his b rother, Noah. We went to a local amusement restaurant, since they enjoy playing the games and watching the activities. That evening, as we drove home from the r estaurant, Christian began speaking in whole sentences and just "talked my leg o ff" the entire way home. We joked and he told me all about his evening. Christia n's language explosion has continued for several months and has even expanded. H e is able to communicate all of his wants and needs and is able to respond to ma ny questions from his parents and teachers.