Many thanks to my Kiersten for getting this blog up and running!  She is one special daughter!

The journey begins!.....

Recently, at a training in Pittsburgh, I was asked the question:  "Do you think that people can recover from autism?"  My answer was and always is the same:  Autism is not an illness.  It is a life-long condition that affects each person in its own unique way.  Some individuals who were diagnosed at a young age appear to have "out grown" their symptoms by adulthood.  They are happy and productive in society.  Some will tell you that they still struggle with sensory stimuli, social interactions, etc., but have learned ways to cope effectively in their adult lives.  But there are also other individuals that continue to be very much afflicted with their disability, and they struggle daily to overcome its challenges.  
As parents and educators, it is our job to take our children to their maximum level of potential, whatever that potential may be.  We must not lose sight of their individuality, and we must always remember to treasure their uniqueness.