I Think Differently I am me, I Am Proud To Be Me

By KYLEN S. Barron and Journey A. Barron

Wow! What an amazing and unique adventure we have all enjoyed together! You have watched me grow from infancy through my formative years into my teenage years as we've learned all about my early diagnosis of "Autism" and where we would go from here. Together, we have learned so much about my unique disorder and how, along with my family, friends

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kylen S. Barron, LLC
• Release date: Feb 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798987056400

Book preview

I THINK DIFFERENTLY

I am me, I Am Proud To Be Me

By Kylen S. Barron

&

Journey A. Barron

Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

– Dr. Seuss

Hi, JAB is my firstborn grandchild.  As his grandmom, affectionately known as Mom-mom, I’ve been on this journey with JAB since before his diagnosis.  Early recognition of the signs of autism is the first step toward immediate support.  From birth, he would wrap his heart around mine and never let go. Yes, it was definitely love at first sight.

We all know that becoming a grandparent for the first time is the absolute best euphoric feeling in the world. However, our grandchildren’s little lives come with many curve balls, surprises, and no manual. JAB was two years old when he began exhibiting unusual behavior for a toddler, behavior that was unrecognizable to me as a mother myself. He was unable to communicate verbally or otherwise express what he wanted. His eye contact was next to non-existent. He would demonstrate repetitive behavior, which could go on for hours. Recognizing that something was wrong, I immediately stepped into action for JAB. I began to speak with anyone and everyone about my observations. It wouldn't be long before we, as a family, would find the answers needed to get back on track with JAB. Becoming advocates for him meant we would dive into an unknown world of a disorder we knew nothing about. In 2011, JAB was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Today, it is known as an aspect of neurodiversity. 

Of course, we asked, What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD? And in response, we learned that Autism Spectrum Disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others and causes problems in social