Life With Autism: Tell Us Your Story

Life with Autism (Added: June 27, 2008)

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Four year old Michael Leiby really loves numbers. His mother says, "I have an incredibly brilliant child." In fact, she says counting actually comforts him. That's one of his many habits she first noticed was unusual.

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Published: May 19, 2008

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According to Susan Leiby, "When he started here at pre-school this year within a week his teachers contacted us and said something is just not right. He was unable to interact with his peers appropriately, to participate in group activities and follow instructions in a group environment he just couldn't seem to do it."

Michael was diagnosed with autism and Susan says life as she knew it for her and her family changed forever.

"I think inside as a parent you are crushed because you always have all these dreams for your child and as soon as you get a bad diagnosis of any kind you have to wonder are they going to be able to reach those same goals."

She says living with autism was something at first they were not prepared for.

"Adapting to the new environments. It's a struggle. There's always the financial impact. The therapies can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year which just isn't in our budget."

She says, the daily struggles to understand and relate to her son , the tantrums, and the unusual behavior are a part of his world.

"He's still my perfect child he's just a different kind of perfect."

She just wants to learn to live in it.