The Best Advice I Have for Parents of Kids with Special Needs

This is my daughter. She has autism. 13 years ago, she stopped making eye contact. 12 years ago they said she wouldn’t speak. 10 years ago, they said she’d never grasp emotions. 8 years ago, they said she wouldn’t be able to go to a regular school. 7 years ago, they said she’d never grasp reading or conversational language. 5 years ago, they said that she may never be able to handle complex social skills. 3 years ago, they were preparing us for her life to be in residential care.

Now. She is an honors student at a mainstream school. She has two years of a fine arts school under her belt. She is a Girl Scout, a programmer for the district robotics team, award winning Science Olympiad, PTSA art officer, and a featured soloist for her Choir. And boy does she have friends.

Don’t let them tell you what your kid can or can’t accomplish with Autism. Give them the tools, the love, and the understanding. Sit back and see what happens. Don’t give up.

Even I still need reminding on the bad days of how far she’s come. And she still has far to go.

~Jacquie Gorman Sortland (Proud Mom)

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