"It is conservatively estimated that nearly 400,000 people in the United States have some form of autism -- the third most common developmental disability. But the majority of the public, including many professionals in the medical, educational and vocational fields, remain unaware of how autism affects people." (1)
Autism-Many individuals have heard the term, and maybe even "know" someone with the disability, but how many really understand how it affects lives on a personal basis?
The book, Silent Angel: The Joys and Challenges in Raising an Autistic Child, answers that question and others as it is a true account of the authors raising a daughter with special needs. This book also includes testimonies of people from various walks of life about this child and how they see her as she relates to them on a daily basis.
This book also offers practical suggestions how someone can interact with an individual or a family with special needs and make a positive impact in our society.
(1) Families for Early Autism Treatment
http://members.tripod.com/gigli/brochure.htm
Meet the man who wrote the Forward for Silent Angel. Visit the home website of Bennet Pomerantz, writer, columnist, reviewer, and dear friend of the family at
http://www.geocities.com/audioworld/audioworld.html
and his Amazon review page
http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2F7CCPK4QL359
Excerpt
Friends share
I asked several friends of ours who have spent sufficient amounts of time with Stephanie over the years if they would be so kind to share some insights about her.
I want to personally thank each one for their kind words and their part in Stephanie's life.
Judy, Stephanie's school bus driver
"My thoughts on Stephanie: You know driving a school bus at times I have time to think and look around at the kids behind me. (In the mirror) This may sound silly but this is what I see in your daughter. (Morning) She arrives with her little books in hand and greets me with a smile; looking back at her, I wonder what's in her little mind today. So pretty and her hair how I long for hair like hers, she turns it in her fingers over and over. She loves to touch the other kids as they walk by...I guess to say 'hey how are you today.' Time for school she waits until you say "ok Steph, lets go." In the winter she takes her hat off and puts it in her back pack as if she says "it's too hot in here." Afternoon is here time to go home. Stephanie comes out in a new hair do every day. I say "OK Steph, leave your hair in so your Mom can see how nice your hair looks." I look in the mirror over and over she looks at me as to say "as soon as you're not looking outs comes the hair"...yes I look out the window to keep my mind on my driving and there she goes ...out with the hair. I say "Stephanie, why did you mess up your hair?" and she gives me that Stephanie smile that she has...as to say "because I can."
Mary S. a very dear friend, mother of three daughters
"I was very honored when my dear friend Melody asked me, if I would like to write something about Stephanie in her new book. Well, I couldn't begin to tell about Stephanie with out first talking about her mother, Melody. I met Melody at church over 30 years ago, when we were just kids. We instantly became good friends, staying over at each others house on weekends. Her entire family is a kind, caring, Christian family; always trying to help someone. They've all always been there for me throughout my life, helping us out many times. Not very often in life does a true friend like Melody come along that will stick around all your life long.
We were so happy for Melody when she met Tim, the love of her life, and they got married. Then her wish came true, what they had been praying for, she was pregnant with a baby girl. Then it happened they were proud parents of a beautiful baby, Stephanie, trying hard to learn all the things we need to know when we all become new parents, to be the best that we can possibly be.
I remember Melody calling one day when Stephanie was around 3 years old. She was very upset telling me the doctors said Stephanie was severely retarded with Autistic tendencies. Well Melody was not going to give up, she would work hard with her daughter to do everything she could to teach her and hope one day to prove them wrong.
When they would come to visit us through the past years of Stephanie's life, we have been seeing small breakthroughs, each one meaning so much!
I remember when Melody called one day all excited with a tearful voice because Stephanie had said "mom" for the first time. Most of us don't appreciate these special moments as our child says mom before 2 years of age, but Stephanie was around 10 at the time. This really made me appreciate how easy I have it with my own 3 children and how blessed we really are.
Stephanie has come a long way in her past 14 years, from not giving eye contact or any one on one response as a child to now where she will take you by the hand to go where she wants to go and give a wonderful loving hug to those around her.
Everyone please keep Stephanie and her family in your prayers as they strive for her to grow up and one day be able to lead a happy, functional, normal life with a family of her own.
God Bless You Stephanie! With love, Aunt Mary"
Grandparents-(Melody's parents)
"We are proud of all the advancements Stephanie has made over the years. At age seven, she was able to put twenty-five piece puzzles together, and now she is playing board games.
A funny moment at Thanksgiving was when she finished eating before everyone else had, and was pouring candy pieces from one cup to another to entertain herself."
When I (Melody) asked my mom how she felt when we found out about Stephanie's diagnosis with autism, she replied, "I was sad. I never knew anyone else who suffered with this disorder. I did a lot of praying for her."
In mentioning Barney, my mom remembers when we went to see Barney Live in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. We had front row seats for a sing-a-long.
"When 'Barney' came down past Stephanie through the middle aisle, her eyes grew wide as saucers."
Diane E. our pastor's wife
"Stephanie has always been a pleasure in our church life. When she was young enough to be in the nursery department, she never had problems with other children.
She would wander around the rooms until she found her interest, something to spin.
We often wondered how Stephanie could spin an object with such consistency. I always thought if she could do that for a living, she would be rich! She was a pro at spinning!
Stephanie also loves to eat. She would walk around the table where all the other children were eating their snack, and snatch a cookie and have it eaten before they could cover them with their hands. She was an expert at cookie snatching also!
Stephanie also is very loving. She hugs with no reservations; she plays with your hair because she likes to. She also walks away when you are talking to her when something else interests her.
While Stephanie may not be considered as normal as our society sees her, she first may in many ways be happier.
How many of us "normal" people wouldn't love to play what and when we want? Eat what looks good to us regardless of whose plate it's on? Or hug someone when the feeling strikes us, and especially walk away when we are no longer interested and go to something else? Who, I ask, is happier?
With love, Diane E."
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