"My 34-year-old daughter, Samantha, has already chosen the song she'll perform at her twin brother, Matt's, wedding in May next year. She's refining her version of Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath My Wings." Not that it needs refining: it was the highlight of her solo concert, "Daring to Dream," last month. The event was a sell-out, and there was rapturous applause. The crowd's appreciation of Samantha made me prouder than ever."
"We were extremely worried, but she came home. Time passed, and while Matt reached certain milestones, like pointing and sitting up. Samantha fell behind. I noticed that she struggled to make eye contact and flapped her hands. The doctors tested her hearing because she wouldn't turn her head when we called her name, but the result came back normal. Then, when she finally began to talk, her language seemed more repetitive than social."
Marguerite Elisofon is the mother of 34-year-old twins Samantha and Matt. Samantha and Matt were born premature at 33 weeks; Matt was stronger while Samantha required NICU care for jaundice, heart arrhythmia and breathing support. Samantha showed developmental delays, limited eye contact, hand flapping and repetitive language despite normal hearing. Early labels included pervasive developmental disorder and later autism. Samantha attended a language-based special education school and received supplementary services. She is an accomplished performer, recently sold out a solo concert, and continues to live with her parents while challenging negative perceptions about people on the spectrum.
Read at Business Insider
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