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I was a public school counselor for the last twenty years of my career. With interest, I viewed Keaton’s school placement and special assistance. Realizing how very fortunate he was that autism was diagnosed early in his life, I continue to be thankful for present day knowledge of such needs. His quality of life is so much better than many of those who had little or nothing known about their autistic condition. The fact that twenty five or thirty five years ago educators were so poorly informed regarding autism continues to be a personal regret. Not long after Mark and Pam moved to Pulaski, one of my twin granddaughters asked me if I thought that Keaton would grow up to be like her Uncle Mark and her Aunt Pam. My careful answer to her was that he would be himself, and be somewhat like his parents who raised him. She actually wanted to know if he would grow out of his autism. He did well in his academic classes; in his physical education andmusic classes, he followed instructions, but not always interacting with his classmates. His aide was there to accompany him on walks in the hall when Keaton needed a change, or became restless. The library was a possibility as Keaton loved books. The playground was a favorite, and there was a therapy room he could visit. His distraction that year was his observation of the students in the special education class. Some of these children had physical disabilities, others had mental or emotional limitations. He felt sorry for them and was fascinated by them at the same time. The situation was instrumental in his parents’ decision

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