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Blog Share: How my son with autism became a martial arts champion

From the Autism Speaks site

This guest post is by Mara Fineshriber a mother, official water bottle bringer, head cheerleader, chauffeur, chief bandage applier, financier, head of complaint department, and homework enforcer.  


How my son with autism became a martial arts champion

My son, Ethan, was diagnosed with autism at age three. I remember thinking he was more behind on his infant and toddler milestones than his older sister was, but I didn't think too much of it because we are often told that each child is different and the range of "normal" is pretty wide.
He didn't begin walking until almost two. He could speak a lot of words at 12 months but they were never his own. He would simply mimic back what others said to him. Communication got much easier when he got to a place where he could answer yes or no, but it wasn't until we completed a lot of therapy before he could answer anything open ended. He is as literal as the day is long and sarcasm, analogies, and innuendo are often lost on him. He has to learn some things differently because he can't easily intuit from context what is meant. He is sensitive to touch and loud noise but, with therapy, has learned how to better cope with uncomfortable stimuli.
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