Living her dream, despite autism: an Autism Story

I am a divorced, single mother of three children-two girls and a boy. My son is 14 and was diagnosed with PDD-Nos when he was four yrs old. He is currently living with his father being that he needed a male role model. He also is thought to have aspergers.

I can relate being that I also had to struggle with autistic and sensory issues as a child. My cousin also struggled with mild autism-he is currently married with three children-all his kids are normal.

I am currently attending online college working on my bachelors degree in medical services management. I am also in the air force reserves (I got in with several waivers back in 1987). So you can see-it runs in my family along with depression and adhd. I also have adhd along with my youngest daughter. She doesn’t have autistic tendencies-very outgoing child. I also had to work through mild learning disability as a child.

My son is in cross-cat special ed classes. He is very comical, really-very funny kid- tries to not let his disability get in the way of enjoying life. He was diagnosed (like me when I was small) with being mildly retarded. I dislike that word very much.

I was wondering - is there proof that there may be a genetic link to autism or autistic/sensory issues? I am still quirky at times, myself. I am hoping that once I get my bachelors degree, I will be able to be put in a position to encourage or inspire others who have children or loved-ones with mild disabilities to keep working with them and not lose hope on the possibility that they may still be able to live their dreams. I am living proof of that along with my cousin. My son is working through his disability right now.
PS- I am currently carrying a 4.0 GPA