Autism ‘isn’t going to stop me’
“I’m not a fast learner or academically gifted or as talented as other people here at Lee College. But I try very hard. “I failed a math course last semester. I tried. I even got help...
“I’m not a fast learner or academically gifted or as talented as other people here at Lee College. But I try very hard. “I failed a math course last semester. I tried. I even got help...
“I was diagnosed with autism when I was 6 years old. My dad didn’t really understand what autism was. I asked, ‘Is there something wrong with me?’ My mom said, ‘No. It just means that you’re...
D: “Alex has what’s called pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified. It’s a type of autism.” K: “He’s considered intellectually disabled as well. He functions like a wonderful, beautiful child with all the funny things. He’s like...
“I have older kids, and then I also raised my stepsons. I thought I was done. But when I remarried, I decided that, you know, time is closing so … And Carlos has really been a...
“He was probably 4 or 5 when we really started noticing things. When bathroom hand dryers came on, he’d start screaming because they were too loud. When it was hot outside, the heat was way worse...
“Our daughters are different. Our oldest one is very outgoing and determined. The younger one, not as much. We have to push her on some things. She’s slightly autistic, very minor. So we’re just trying to...
“After the Hurricane Harvey, this nonprofit organization called Just the Crumbs from Sumrall, Mississippi, came here. They started providing meals for all of the flooding victims. We were looking for something that Adam could do to...
“Adam just loved school. He loved everything about it. He liked being around the people. He liked all of the socialization. He liked the jobs he got to do. His last job was at Tractor Supply....
“Right before Adam turned 2, that’s when we found out he was autistic. There definitely were signs. Because he was our only child, some of the signs I probably didn’t recognize as early as I should...
“I knew that I wanted to become a special education teacher. But life throws you curves sometimes. I graduated high school six months pregnant with my daughter, and I got married right away. Later on, I...