When I’m asked the question, “tell me about your child,” what do I say? She’s a very active 20 year-old that loves swimming, Legos, and Mary Kate and Ashley. But, what touches my heart the most about her is her need for a lot of love and affection.

One of the things you hear about people affected with Autism is how they are in their own world and very distant from the real world. Not my child. She is very warm and loves flattery and attention.

Her uncle is one of her favorite people and he started saying when he sees her, “Show me your beautiful smile.” Now whenever she’s around him, before he can say it, she shouts out, “I got that beautiful smile!” and she’s grinning from ear-to-ear and on cloud nine for the rest of the day.

Cheryl Dillon