10/2/06 @ 10:20am is when my life changed for the better. It's a complete mystery to know what anyone's thinking/feeling until they tell you. My handsome 8 yo Autistic son named Aiden, gives me power/strengths/guides me to faith/enriches me w/ patience/overwhelms me w/ understanding. I never thought that I could love anyone so much. I have 3 other beautiful children & my love for them is so overwhelming. How can anyone love more than that?

Aiden does that to everyone he meets. His smile's so warming, his presence is breathtaking. The best part is when our worlds meet. It makes your heart stop, I want to just squeeze him so tight. His demand for your eye contact/attention is pure love, can’t be described.

When my ex called divorce, I knew I had to keep it together for my children. It was so hard. A wk. after he left us, I had that great visit w/ the doctor telling me about Autism. I didn't grasped “Autism/Autistic Child” for @ least 4 mo. I didn’t want to accept it. But I knew I had to for Aiden’s sake.

Being a single mom of an Autistic child hasn't been a walk in the park, but it builds your faith, & overwhelms you w/ love, you flow over w/ patience & you wonder, “How do I keep my understanding for his ways?”, but it is all so worth it each & everyday.

I wouldn’t trade 1 second of my life for a Non-Autistic Child. The love is the best part of Aiden.

I don’t think of Aiden as my Autistic Child, he's my Mystical Child. Rare & is such a mystery. There's no other way to look at him. I thank God for all my children, & the strength God has given me through all that I've learned from Autism, having children, & my love for all.

Being a parent of an Autistic child's a keep your chin up/hold your faith/remember who you are/who needs you/love all around you, kind of world. Autism is not contagious/it doesn’t judge/it's confused/but is always trying to learn.

There are so many beautiful moments that I share with my child, however this one in particular was very special. My son Dawson is 8, beautiful and full of life, he and his little brother are my heartbeats. We were headed to school one morning and he was telling me something about Winnie the Pooh that he had heard in school the day before. I asked him if he knew the Tigger song? I began to sing to him, The wonderful thing about Tiggers, A Tiggers a wonderful thing, their tops are made of the rubber, their bottoms are made of the spring, their bouncy, bouncy, bouncy ,bouncy.. Fun fun fun fun fun. The wonderful, wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one. I-I-Im the only one! He replied to me. Wow,mommy! Tigger is just like me! I said how so? He said the wonderful thing about Dawson is I'm the only one!! I said that is so right! We teach him thats its great to be different and unique, just like Tigger, and to embrace that because he is so very special. It was such an amazing moment we shared! We still sing the song but now we put Dawson in place of Tigger and change the rubber and spring part. He is one amazing little boy, like no other. He has overcome so many challenges and much adversity, including several surgeries from birth due to a defect. Dawson is a miracle child at Shands Hospital in Gainesville FL (GO GATORS!!!) and a children's miracle network ambassador. We still have a very long road to travel but we have already come so far and never looking back! It hasnt always been easy but it will forever be worth it. He is going to do great things, I just know it! God bless ya'll..

~ Different, Not Less

Disability or gifted???? I hope some of you share in my thoughts??? My granddaughter Arianna is on the Autism spectrum. Have I ever thought of her with a disability,absolutely NOT!!!!! I often wonder if we are the ones with the disability???? She has taught every person who knows her so many lessons,she is only 6 years old!!! Her Pop says he sees God right inside of her,her Mom says shes a gift from God,friends comment they would luv to see thru her eyes-where the world has no sadness or hatred,her teachers say she has an aura around her and for me she is Angelic!!!! She is the most gentle,kind,luving and happy person I have ever met!! She has shown appreciation,gratitude and luv with no words,could we imagin being about to do that??? She has begun to talk and with that shes taught us to embrace words,never to take anything for granted and how special the world really can be!!!! She will excel,there is no doubt in that--so for that she is gifted!!!

At the age of 25 I walked into the hospital to give birth to my second child. A day later I was told my baby girl had Down's syndrome. My world came crashing down around me. A year and a half later I was told that my eldest son, then two and a half years old had high functioning autism.

At 26 years old I was finished. Beaten. I had no idea how to make it through and struggled desperately to come to terms not only with my children's conditions but also how to reach them both as a mother and find the right support for their needs.

I battled with feelings of shame and denial, the prejudiced attitudes of others and profound sadness. Yet all the while I was determined to make it through to find away to create a happy, fun life for our family.

At the age of 29 I gave birth two months prematurely to twin girls but with no risks to their health and regular development.

Yesterday, April 8, my e-book A Brief Moment in Time, published by ASD Publishing Co. was released and I told my story to the world of how as a family we made it through. And also how I taught my barely verbal son to communicate with me and others, to understand the value of choice, to understand and manage anxiety fueled meltdowns, to master the rules of social engagement and ultimately to have confidence in himself.

At the age of ten, my son wrote the dedication page to A Brief Moment in Time. In it he wrote:

'The medicine to take away the ASD is always teaching and listening.'

I hope that my story can inspire you.

Deborah French

A Brief Moment in Time is available for download now on from:

www.amazon.com

www.amazon.co.uk

www.barnes&noble.com

www.kobobooks.com

ibooks store

Hunter was always a picky baby as he got older i kept saying to people, "he still isn't talking" they would say, "boys develop slower" but by 3 i was certain something was up. i had our local pre-school observe and after that and a few doctors later he was diagnosed with non-verbal autism. it has been an uphill battle for services but its one i will win for my son he is 7 now and such a Character and although he still does not talk there is a little signing and picture recognition. My heart will always ache for him to learn more and more communication but Hunter is Hunter and i would never change that. He is my perfect son. I work hard to educate who i can on autism and its a big job. I believe the Lord blesses us with exactly what we can handle in our lives and i have many blessings and that includes Hunter He makes me see things how i have never seen them before and it makes me more grateful for the things we take for granted like the simple form of communication...Me and my Husband WILL not give up till all the pieces fit!

Tyler is 4 years old and recently, "officially" diagnosed with Autism. He also has sensory disorders. We know that he hears "too well". I have known something was going on since he was between 1 and 2 years old, but no one would listen. I researched and then made them listen to my findings. At an age where others were telling stories about their kids, I remembered that as with my older 2, he should've been speaking better. He shouldv'e been able to have a conversation with us. He couldn't. It seems the more little helpful pieces of information I find and apply, the better it has gotten. I fear for him in school. He would be a target for a bully and not know what to do in emergencies. I find peace in knowing that we are doing somethings right.

Today I took him to the park with his 1 year old brother. As we were leaving he grabbed hold of the stroller and stayed beside me...no meltdowns, nothing. Quite the opposite. As we approached the car, out of the blue, he looked up at me and said "Thank you, mommy". Of course I began to melt. I got him in and start buckling his brother when he said "What a beautiful day, mommy" it was so calm and sweet. Holding back tears I said "You're right, it is a beautiful day".Then, buckling him in, he said "I love our walks, I love the playground. I love the water, the party and the tables" (Last part referring to a party we had yesterday for his brothers Baptism) Last night he laid in bed with daddy and said "It was an amazing family party". Skipping no words when he speaks from the heart. Its only when he quickly speaks that he misses pronouns and such. He is proving how Autism doesn't control him.I am so proud. If we get the opportunity in the moments flashed before we die to "see" something from our past I really hope that this is one of mine.

I miss my daughter Tiffany. She had autism and passed away 04/19/2012. She also had OCD as a result of the autism. Her doctor put her on high doses of Zolft to control the OCD and this proved toxic without any warning symptoms. I just wanted to share so no one else will lose a loved one this way. Tiffany loved life even though she was dealt a difficult hand. She was born a male and her only wish in life was to become the woman she felt she should have been from birth. It is a tragedy to lose someone who is only 25 and full of life.

Everyday i thank god for Joel ,almost 4 and he is my sweet heart. Everyday we face the world together as a team ! Joel is my youngest child , he has 2 big brothers and two big sisters. I have learnt so much from Joel that all my other kids had not even made me think of ! I knew Joel was unique , all kids are. We got the autism diagnosis at the age of three , but i had known he was autistic from the day i typed speech delay into a Google search , then i read about autism and right away i knew this was my son. I will not lie , i was utterly devastated , to the point it took me months to even discuss it with my husband. I feared so much for my sweet beautiful little boys future , what would it be like ??? Now i never think that far ahead , i take each day as it comes , in the last year we have noticed such progress , through changes we have made as a family , to change things to be better not just for Joel , but for us all. I have learned so much as a parent from my youngest child , increased patience, understanding, and a whole new perspective on life. I am so proud to be an autistic mum , as the love between me and my child is unprecedented and everlasting , my devastation did not last as i realized i had not lost anything , my boy was right there in front of me just as he had always been , and will always be , as i will always be at his side guiding him through this complex life , trying to understand things from a different view , see things in the light of my gorgeous boys perspective, with a huge heart swollen with pride and eternal love for him we will always be progressing and we will be a family proud of Joel our special boy.

Our twin girls are both Autistic. They show us all the time that they don't let that stand in their way. This past Christmas both of our daughters were involved in singing a song for a special in church and our one daughter Megan sang the solo for the very first time. Megan had only heard the song only a handful of times but she memorized all the words.See our girls may be in the 5th grade but they only read at a 1st grade level. At the end of the song, Megan received a standing ovation. There was not a dry eye in the place. Our video has been shared by many of our family members. I hope this video inspires other parents who has a child with Autism that kids with special needs can do extraordinary things. Our girls inspire us to do our best and to let nothing stand in our way. Our daughters singing brings our family hope that they will grow up and live a productive life.

Christian is a very happy, energetic, handsome 2 1/2 year old. He was diagnosed a month ago with Autism. He loves cars, his pillow, and his baby sister. He has shown so much improvement in just the short time he has been receiving help. He works with a Special Instructions Teacher and a Speech Therapist as well as an Occupational Therapist. He is such an expressive little boy and he is the light of his father and I's life! He knows just what to do to put a smile on anyone's face, whether it be his little smile or recently a big hug! He will make a little eye contact now and the fact that he is hugging and interacting with other people is such a huge blessing for us! Every day Christian amazes those around him! Since his diagnosis, It has opened my eyes to so many things and I look at every little things completely different then I had before! Each day is another new word to learn or another obstacle to overcome! I thank God for blessing my husband and I with such a unique and amazing little boy! We love you Boo Bear, to the moon and back!