Dear Reader and Friend,

When I first began what I called “My Project I Hope Will Become a Book about Autism,” I was afraid that I would have a difficult time finding people to tell me their stories. I was amazed when people I knew and even people I didn’t know kept saying “Yes!” when I asked. Thirteen families were willing to give me, and also you, a glimpse into their personal lives.  

The way their stories flowed from their hearts moved me. Each time I listened to the recordings as I transcribed peoples’ narratives, I once again heard and felt the joy, worry, surprise, hope, and love in their voices. Each time I read their words as I reworked, reorganized, and edited the book, I once again felt that connection with them that I experienced when they first talked to me.

My project grew until I realized I actually had too much information for one book! Sadly, my favorite part of the process, hearing stories, came to an end.

My journey on this project has been amazing, and I think the result of this labor of love will help other families realize that they are not alone. I believe this sharing should continue beyond the book. I hope that through this website, specifically through the blog and the newsletter, I can continue to help parents connect to one another and to helpful resources.

I am not yet sure exactly how this project will evolve, just as I was unsure how the book would develop when I first began.

That being said, I NEED YOUR HELP! I am looking for people who would like to share their stories. If you are a writer at heart, you can write and contribute your own article. If you prefer to talk to me or sketch out details that I can develop into an article, that is great also.

The book tells experiences from a family perspective. For the newsletter and blog, I think it would be useful to hear more from families but also from others in the community who have some connection to individuals with autism: teachers, medical staff, therapists, volunteers, or people from nonprofits.

If you have read this far, I hope you will contact me and be willing to share experiences that might benefit others who want to learn more about autism. I would love for you to join me on this journey.