People from all over the country are joining SPARK, and they want to share their stories. From anecdotes about registering for SPARK to accounts of how families dealt with diagnoses, SPARK community members are sharing their experiences with one another.
Meet some of our SPARK participants by exploring this section.
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Dylan Robey loves insects, all of them, even the dreaded cockroach. Like many people with autism, Dylan has what researchers call a special interest, in his case, in bugs. Others might call it a passion for the unappreciated.
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Jennifer Kelly took her son to a specialist because he was having behavior problems at school. But the doctor’s initial diagnosis didn’t seem right.
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The Sandos have three reasons for their commitment to autism research: Lizzie, Blake, and Teddy.
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Elaine Hamilton spent years helping families of children with disabilities. So when she was asked to publicize SPARK, she decided to go a step further.
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After enrolling in SPARK, the Meiles learned that their son has a change in the POGZ gene. The diagnosis helps explain a mysterious health issue.
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Sandra Sermone refused to wait. She had seen her son Tony through heart surgery, a feeding tube, brain scans, countless blood tests, and medical appointments. This little boy who struggled to eat, talk, and play was getting worse. Sermone had three things: a telephone, a computer, and an inability to be discouraged. She would find an answer for what was happening to her child.
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Nataly Cuzcu’s twin daughters were 11 months old when she first noticed that their development seemed to be moving backward.
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Caitlin and Chad Calder long suspected that their daughter Della had autism. But they didn’t get an official diagnosis until they learned she had a change in the ASXL3 gene.
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Carrie is one of the first SPARK participants to get a genetic result. Her mother, Lynn, says everything has changed and nothing has changed.
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Daily living skills, such as cooking, shopping and managing money, are a strong predictor of independence. The good news: these skills can be taught.
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