Anastasia Brielle Rigger

Changing my major to Communication Disorders was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I absolutely love it. Every class makes me feel like a child on Christmas. Brie, of course, is the reason for making such a huge change. Its been over a year since I held her or heard he sweet little voice calling me in the morning or telling me she loves me. I love all four of those kids, but she is the reason I was meant to go there.

When I first go to New York Brie hardly talked at all, she was still in diapers, and only eating vanilla yogurt and drinking pediasure out of a bottle. She was 3 years old! Her parents were constantly telling me that she wasn't behind, she didn't have a learning disorder Nate (her twin brother) was just exceptional. Ticked me off ever time. She wouldn't play in the sand box or even get up herself once falling on the grass because the texture bother her so much. To me, and many other people around her she was clearly autistic. Yes it seemed to be a mild form, which just made me more upset. If she was to truly get the help she so desperately needed she could have a very normal life. She had speech therapists, and a feeding therapist but they can only do so much with out the parents support and recognition. I devoted my time, patience, and most importantly my heart to her and we did start seeing a difference. She talked NON stop to me. Of course her mother couldn't really see that. Brie didn't want to talk to her. She be

came better and more involved in mine and Nate's "pretend games" and she even started eating solid food and using the potty. We even played in the sand box together. It wasn't just a sense of accomplishment, I felt like I had made a difference. I think its a very similar feeling to what a parent feels as they watch their child grow and learn. Leaving her was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I think about her every day. She changed my life, and because of her I will hopefully get to change others. For more information on autism click here