Hi! My name is Jennifer Stewart. I am the mother to two boys, Alexander and Jacob, residing in the Minisink Valley School District. My youngest son, Jacob, is diagnosed with PDD-NOS. I believe that I was given two beautiful children, both intelligent, both talented, yet individuals. One child to show me how to achieve and accomplish, the other to take my hand and slow me down reminding me to enjoy the day, stop hurrying, listen to the birds, and just revel in the earth's beauty. And for their differences I am grateful.

Jacob's autistic tendencies began surfacing immediately following his inoculation at age 15 months in 1996. Despite my concerns and questions, the medical profession patronized me with comments that I was babying him.."he is your youngest..he will talk..don't worry." He began Early Intervention (EI) at age 2 1/2 classified as "Speech Impaired". In the Spring of 2000, he had "aged out" of preschool and was declassified. The preschool felt that they had resolved his speech impairment and that Jake should attend Kindergarten as a typical child. It was then that I "woke up" and began trying to find information - realizing that my child was not "typical". In the Fall of 2000, Jacob was formally diagnosed with an ASD.

I am a firm believer in family support because Autism affects the entire family. My eldest son Alexander has taught me this during our rough journey in trying to help Jacob. Each day is a learning experience for our family. We learn from our children and with them, taking tiny steps forward together. Autism has its "good days" and then "bad days". As Alexander says "when its bad, its bad".

My journey to the "Land of Autism" began in August 2000 during the declassification process. It was at that time I was trying to understand and learn where my son's abilities/disabilities lay. That is when I came in contact with Lesa. Our friendship began because of the common link of Autism, but its existence is based on so much more.