There is a place deep in your soul that aches when you realize that there is something not quite right with your child. "Not quite right" is not necessarily a bad thing; it's just something different than what you may have imagined. This book will take you along our journey with autism-from the beginning of acceptance to the amazing, self-directed life that can be achieved. My goal is to encourage parents and caregivers of children with special needs to see that there is hope and a future full of wonderful opportunities. My son, who was once unable to make eye contact and was completely nonverbal and incapable of making minor transitions, has become a loving, verbal, and smart individual with a great sense of humor. He plays Beethoven and Bach on his baby grand piano; dances the waltz, tango, and salsa at his ballroom-dance lessons; and enjoys hip-hop and playing the drums and the guitar. All his banging on metal chairs and slides as a little boy certainly has paid off. Once you can zone in on your child's gifts and abilities, the sky's the limit. I have included a variety of tools that have been monumental in teaching and encouraging Jake to be his absolute best-calendars, food charts, therapies, and so much more. God has given me the grace to raise two amazing children and the motivation to write this book. It hasn't been easy, but I will share as much as I can of what I've learned in order to make other people's lives easier. I hope this book will reach many

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