Lissette J. Hernandez - Even with Autism...: I Can Be Anything!

Even with
AUTISM...

I Can Be
ANYTHING!

Written by Lissette J. Hernandez

(through the eyes of Gabriel Adrian Hernandez)

Illustrated by: Frances Espaol

(inspired by Gabriel Adrian Hernandez)

Copyright 2014 Lissette J. Hernandez.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-3857-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-3856-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014910154

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Contents

For

Gabriel

My little man, my big inspiration

Jerry

My constant, positive better half

My mom

My guide and advisor through

the journey of life

LJH

Doctors told my parents when I was two years old that I had something called AUTISM.

They explained that people with autism are on a spectrum. They explained that a spectrum means that there is a wide degree of differences in the way that it affects people.

I think of this autism spectrum like a long line of people with autism. Every person on this spectrum line has autism in a different way and deals with things in their own manner.

Each person on this spectrum has his or her unique abilities and challenges. Each person on this spectrum is unique.

You know what that means? You guessed it!

I am SPECIAL!

At times, people on the spectrum need assistance to do things that others on the spectrum can do on their own.

But my parents were told that I was going to have lots of trouble doing almost EVERYTHING.

I dont think that this is true though because with lots of love and a little help, I always feel like Im on top of the world! Having AUTISM means I can DO many things and BE ANYTHING. For example...

I think the A in AUTISM stands for artist . And I must be a reeeaaal creative one cause my teachers have always told me, Gabriel, you are such an amazing drawer! Youre a regular Picasso! I draw pictures of many of my favorite things. I draw pictures of my favorite superheroes, yard inflatables, and cartoon characters.

Sometimes I get upset because I feel like the pictures I draw dont come out perfect. I want to tear the paper up into tiny, little pieces! But my parents tell me, Its okay to make mistakes. You can draw even better pictures next time! They believe in me, and that helps me believe in myself. Sometimes I draw the same pictures of things over and over to show how much I really, really like them. That must be why I draw so well. You know what they say, Practice makes perfect! Im feeling COOOL!

The U in AUTISM must stand for umpire . And I must be a reeeaaal great one. When my dad pitches that ball to me, Im not sure if Im reaching down too low, reaching up too high, or reaching at just the right point for the ball, but I still dont give up. You know why?

Cause as long as I keep trying, my dad always says, Boy, what a great catch, papi ! You are my umpire superhero! Im feeling AWWWESOME!

I know for sure the T in AUTISM stands for teacher . And I must be one of the very best cause my behavior therapist, who studied for a long time, is always telling me that she has learned so much more from me than I have from her.

She says Ive taught her very important things, like love, patience, and understanding. WOW! I didnt even know those were school subjects! Im feeling AMAAAZING!

Certainly, the I in AUTISM stands for intellectual . And I must be soooooo bright cause my mom says Im a genius. She used to have a hard time remembering if she had locked her car using her car alarm. Then one day I told her to hit the alarm twice.

She wasnt sure why I needed to hear it twice. I explained that doing things an even number of times is important. It just makes sense to me. She says that is so clever of me, cause now, even when Im not with her, she hits the alarm twice, and that helps her remember that she locked it for sure. YES! Im feeling PROUD!

The S in AUTISM means I am a singer . My mom always tells me I got melody from her and rhythm from Dad. My singing sounds pretty good to me too! My hearing is very sensitive though, and I hear the beauty in any sound. So even though I feel I sound great when I sing in the shower, I think a lot of people feel they sound great when they sing in the shower.

I may not have the very best singing voice just yet, but that doesnt matter to me. I just love the joy I feel when I sing. I sing at school, at parties, and even with my family at home. I really enjoy singing to tunes on the radio when my grandma picks me up from school. Im picky about some songs though. I might even scream, Take off that song! cause it bothers me. So my grandma gently tells me to please ask her nicely. I take a deep breath, calm down, and ask again nicely. She changes the song. Now I hear one of my favorites! What a RELIEF! Im feeling HAPPY!

The last letter in AUTISM, the M definitely stands for magician , and I must be a powerful one cause...

My whooooole family says that I turn their gray skies blue AND their frowns upside down!