Thank you

[Guest guest]

I am relatively new to this group and to autism, as my son was

finally diagnosed last summer at 20 months old.

I often tend to be focused on what can help MY child NOW since he is

in his most critical development time, benefiting from the hours,

days, months and years that others like you have already put in and

have so willingly, without any financial reward, taken your time to

help my son, and others you have never met, save valuable time with

intervention. My son has already made a dramatic change for the

better, I am keeping records of what is working for him. We were

blessed in a way that he was also born legally blind and I have

records from Early Childhood Intervention on him since he was 7 weeks

old, so I have an " official " record of his decline as the signs of

autism emerged. I am hoping to get this compiled to help others as

well--but first, the redoing of our mortgage to 40 year insted of 30,

take out a home equity loan......to finance what is being refused by

insurance so I can get the services needed NOW, and fight for

reimbursement later. Fortunately, my pediatrician is giving me the

referrals I am asking for, so it is just the insurance I need to

fight.

SO, a big, heart felt THANK YOU for those that have the means to

actually travel to Austin and lobby on my son's behalf, and also

those who share their trials and successes that shorten our search.

Most sincerely and appreciatively,

Bonnie, mom of 28 months, PDD-NOS,and legally blind from

Albinism