Hi my name is Billie Jo. I have 5 children, one with autism, and this is my story my journey and the struggles I face....

When Austin turned 3, he didn't talk, wouldn't go to the restroom, flapped his hands, and didn't play with other children. I knew something wasn't right. I was told my child was deaf at a clinic I had taken him to for months. I just let it go then. I realized if all these noises hurt his ears he couldn't be deaf, right?

Then I took him to another doctor and she decided to have him evaluated. Within an hour, as my sister-in-law and I sat there, she looked at us and said, "your child has autism" and I said, "what is autism?" and I immediately started to cry. I couldn't be comforted. Little did I know no help would come to me from anyone.  Finally, he got a medical card. I have no income. I couldn't work . Who would watch him? How was I gonna do this ? He did get a medical card, but it only pays for 2 hours of therapy a week and this is where I still stand.

 I had no idea my journey or our lives would change the way they did and still are. The financial state I am in is nothing anyone should go through. There just isn't any help anywhere to turn and my family isn't there either. I do the best that I can, but it isnt enough.  Austin is now 5 and he still isn't potty trained and could use a lot more therapy, but financially,  I can't get that for him. Austin is doing good. He is starting to talk and I know in my heart if he had more therapy my child would do so much better but the help just isn't there...