Autism Inspiration

Hello, I am Jennifer Fletcher and I thought it might be helpful if I shared a little about myself.

Autism has been a part of my life since I was young. My first experience with autism came from working with my sister. I remember puzzling over her language use. It seemed she had made up a language of her own and my family was always left guessing when she told jokes that none of us could understand then stood laughing at them alone. Then we faced the struggles of hour-long temper tantrums, refusal to wear certain clothes or shoes, not wanting to be strapped into a car seat, avoiding her peers in school and the multitude of other peculiar behaviors she displayed. I learned a lot working with my sister. Most importantly I learned patience.

One morning, while I was brushing my 2 year-old daughter's hair, she started screaming that it hurt. She began screaming when I clipped her nails, gave her a bath, or brushed her teeth. She didn't want to be touched by me or anyone else; she wouldn't even allow anyone to help her get dressed. She walked around the house with a blanket wrapped around her and would only let me hold her if she was wrapped tightly in the blanket while I rocked her continuously. I felt frustration, embarrassment, and even anger toward strangers in stores and other public places who made negative comments about my parenting skills when my daughter was screaming in spite of my best efforts to calm her. Later my daughter was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and in the years since her two younger brothers have been diagnosed with Autism.

Now I am a Special Education teacher in a classroom for children with Autism and related behaviors. I have received my master's degree in Special Education. I have taught children within the Autism spectrum from pre-school age to sixth grade for over ten years. I have served as an Autism Consultant for the district I work in and mentor teachers.