Knowing Your Baby Has Autism, Before Everyone Else
Julia knew her daughter had autism by the time the girl was only 1. How could she be so sure?
Learn MoreTopic: SPARK family stories
Since 2016, hundreds of thousands of people throughout the U.S. have joined SPARK. Many have shared their autism and research journeys with us. These family stories are about everyday life, triumphs, challenges, and why finding answers through SPARK’s autism research is important.
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Parenting in a Pandemic: A Journey to Autism Diagnosis and Advocacy
In the early months of the pandemic, Marc and Cristina noticed that something was different about their baby. How would they find their way to an autism diagnosis and services?
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Neurodiversity: Mary Lipiec’s Journey
Mary Lipiec got a letter asking her to join an autism study called SPARK. But first, she had one question: Were they looking for a cure?
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Finding Answers for a Daughter’s Autism through Research
Heather Bensch knew her daughter was different since infancy. Twenty years later, SPARK told her it had discovered why.
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“Half My Childhood is Gone”: Growing up with Autism and Epilepsy
Seizures took away some of Abigail’s childhood memories. As a young adult, she discovered the reason for both her epilepsy and autism. Her journey to help others with similar conditions led her to two research studies.
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The Long, Long Road to Autism Diagnoses
A SPARK family had early suspicions that their children might have autism, but that did not lead to early diagnoses. Why was their journey so long?
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Radio Waves: The Autism Journey of John Graham
John Graham knew that autism affects everyone differently. He recently learned from SPARK just how different his own autism is.
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Black, Mother, Wife, and Autistic: The Intersectionality of Motherhood
Since her diagnosis, Vonda better understands how she interacts with the world, interacts with her husband and mother, and how she mothers her three sons.
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Debunking Autism Stereotypes: Cami’s Story
Camryn did not fit the stereotype of someone with autism. Did that delay her diagnosis?
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Married, with Autism: Meet the Davenports
Courtney and Bill Davenport are united by their love, an interest in video games, and autism. How might their shared diagnosis affect them?
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The Sibling Bond in Autism: The Story of Nicholas and Davis
Davis has autism. His big brother Nicholas doesn’t. How does autism affect their sibling bond?
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