Autism Speaks

Tomorrow is World Autism Day and it is very near and dear to my heart. My oldest son has Asperger's, which is in the Autism family. I always knew that there was something not quite right about him. From the time he was really young, he liked to rock back and forth. I really did not think a lot about it, but then more things starting standing out. He had a fascination with fans and jumping up and down and swinging. Not too strange, but my mom senses started tingling. At the time I was going to college. I was in a class learning about Autism and other things that can happen to children. I asked my professors what they thought about my son and a couple of them told me that as long as he talked, he was fine. He talked, so I tried to think that he was okay. But, things kept striking me funny so I looked into it a little more. I asked his pediatrician and she thought we should see a psychiatrist. I called the one she recommended, but our insurance did not cover him and his prices were crazy. I continued to do the best I could for my son, but I always knew something wasn't right. In 2nd grade we had him tested. The tests said he was fine, I knew different. We took him to his new pediatrician who put him on medication for ADHD and it really helped that problem. In 3rd grade he had a wonderful teacher and it was about this time I had diagnosed him myself, turns out his teacher thought the same thing. We found a developmental pediatrician to help us and we started behavior therapy.