It's been a long time in coming. Ryan graduates, and he is done with schooling. For now at least. It's time to celebrate.
Ryan was three years old on his first day of school. He did not go to pre-school. He went to a "communicative handicap" class. He did not talk. At all. At this point I had never paid attention to the word autism. No one said Ryan had autism. Ryan just didn't talk.
Maybe he was deaf. Maybe his brothers talked for him so he didn't have to. Maybe his mother just held him too much, so he didn't develop normally.
I heard all the above and much more from doctors and family members. None of it was true. Ryan had been talking. Ryan talked, laughed, smiled, played. All normal, typical behaviors. Then it all stopped. Autism hit. Fast forward through years of diagnostic tests and multiple therapies, we arrived at a milestone. Graduation.
Ryan has successfully completed a general course of study. That only tells of the academic success. There's also the mastery of sensory issues, spinning, talking, etc. Ryan may not have been valedictorian, but his accomplishments are no less.
Very proud of him!
About Me
- Sheryl J
- I am: a) happily married for over 27 years; b) mom to five boys, three diagnosed with autism; c) a home schooling mom; and d) self-employed as a piano teacher. There is no trace of autism on my side or my husband's side of the family tree. Until nine years ago, my youngest four all had disabilities, the youngest three with autism. Five years ago my youngest did not "qualify" for the autism label, rendering him "recovered". My second oldest also "tested" out of his speech delay. My husband and I attribute these successes to the care of many family members and therapists, change in diets, not following mainstream medicine yet listening to medical advice, doing our own research, and most importantly, lots of prayer.
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