I am a single mom with a fourteen year old son with PDD. In his younger years he did not talk, broke windows, and ran out of the house with no clothes on. I had to have padlocks on all of my doors and I couldn't even get a shower. His behavior was so challenging.

When he was five years old I found out about ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) program that he was in for 6 years. I did not have to pay for it and his behavior is seventy percent better. We still have some issues we are working on but things are much better and I feel it is because of this program.

I cannot afford to pay for extra therapies I would like to provide for him. He has insurance through the state but whenever you try to use it, nothing is ever close by or the doctors are not worth going to. The school districts are great for special ed children but NOT for autism. I have had him at the principal with security called because of a tantrum. He thought it was the police and it made him worse after I told them I would handle it. There needs to be more training by special ed teachers in Autism or for that matter all teachers. All that aside, my son is funny, unique and I wouldn't trade him for the world.