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Autism viewed as opportunity

The Chronicle - 4/20/2019

April 19-- Apr. 19--Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnoses are more prevalent now than ever before, affecting about 1-in-59 children in the United States.

While alarming to some, this national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2018 statistic gives others an opportunity to discover and share their journey with autism.

That's the case locally.

April is National Autism Awareness Month and local Mansfield mother Jamie Sweet embraces her son's autism as a gift and as an opportunity to grow rather than struggle.

"Could you believe, before I had this little boy, I was shy. I didn't dare to even talk to anybody, and now, because he's so bold I had to become bold, too," she said. " I actually can say I love autism because there are so many gifts with it."

Although Tristian Sweet, her 7-year-old son, did not talk until he was 5, he demonstrated a "phenomenal" talent for drawing at an early age.

AUTISM, Page 4

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