How did you feel when your child was first diagnosed?

I felt as if my whole life had changed. I had always suspected autism, but when the diagnosis came, it was real, in black and white. She was almost eight-years-old by that time, and I was told I just worried too much as she was my first child. I was upset that she lost early intervention, however, glad that she was high functioning enough to cope and well enough to fool the so-called professionals for so many years.

I lost the thought of having a "normal" mother-daughter relationship (whatever normal is?). I felt like it was so unfair that she wouldn't be able to make choices. Would she be able to choose whether or not to get married and have children? Would she be able to live on her own? Talk about jumping ahead, but I was grieving for the difficulties she would encounter her entire life as people are not always very kind and my daughter is very kind and finds the goodness and beauty in everything. I took it one day at a time and found a support group and things were more manageable.

Robin is now a beautiful 17-year-old young lady with autism spectrum disorder. She does need some reminders regularly but is a very happy person. She enjoys Pokemon and is very good at drawing and loves flowers and plants. She has recently entered a horticulture program at a local high school. She is doing very well in floral arrangements. She works between 3-5 hours per week which gives her spending money and also some independence. She does have assistance from a job coach as needed. Much to my surprise, she has even recently started dating. She has known this young man for a couple of years through Special Olympics. They go to movies, bowling, out to eat, hockey games etc. Of course his mother or myself are there and we are the ones to drive them. It is really exciting to see her going through some "normal" things. They will be attending the Senior Prom together this year as well. It is difficult to see your child struggle through life, as she knows she is different and things are harder for her to cope with, but she is also doing a lot of really neat stuff too!  I worry about the future, but it may also bring some really great things too!