I laugh now, but at the time it was terribly traumatic. My son, Daniel, was days away from turning age 18. Guardianship! The issue was here; there was no more time – or so I thought. My husband and I had known for quite some time that our youngest son, diagnosed with autism, would need…
WNC Run/Walk for Autism is Chance to Share Their Story
Wyatt Ogden was not diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder until he was 7 years old. He had been referred for an autism evaluation by his preschool when he was 3, but he was high-functioning, and his parents did not want to limit him with a label. But Wyatt had some challenges in elementary school, and…
The Opinions of Others: I’m No Longer Concerned
When my son was first diagnosed with autism at the age of four and a half, I was truly concerned about what others thought about his different and strange behaviors. My son looks very much like his typical peers, as many children with autism do. People stared and gave me disapproving looks when he would…
Where Am I When I Am in My Head?
Where am I when I am in my head? That is a pretty specific question! I tell you, I’m not like any other Autistic! But then again, no Autistic is like any other Autistic! How about non-Autistics? Are you, whether you are Autistic or not, like anyone else? I’d like to think I’m like some…
How to Help as a Grandparent
This article was contributed by Terry Fetzer, who is an Autism Resource Specialist in the Eastern region and has a son and a grandson with autism. Most of us remember what a miracle it was when we became a parent of a child. The years pass, and now your child is an adult having a…
Supported Employment Brings Fulfillment
Editor’s note: This article previously appeared in ASNC’s Spectrum magazine. David Roth’s parents never have to wake him up in the morning or push him to get out the door on time for his job. The 27-year-old with autism works at the Courtyard in Chapel Hill, mostly in the fast-paced, physically demanding laundry, but he…