Biography

Grace's autism is moderately severe and coupled with intellectual disAbilities plus severe speech/language disorder. As a result, her verbal communication is limited. She can make her requests known with single words or very short sentences, but she is not conversational. She is currently learning to use a communicative device to supplement her speech.

Since kindergarten, Grace has attended a blend of general and special education classes within her local public education school system. She does so with the assistance of a one-on-one paraprofessional provided by the school system.

Now in high school, she is on a transition track that will enable her to eventually live independently with assistance, hold a part-time job and, if she chooses, to continue creating and selling art. Rather than viewing her challenges as "deficits," her loving family embraces and celebrates her differences.