Miracle of Effort - John A. Fortunato Ph. D.

Miracle of Effort: Thalia's Autism Journey is the story of Thalia being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when she was two years old and her journey to graduating college and becoming an elementary school teacher. Through Thalia's journey, this book aspires to offer a sense of what children with autism and their families go through. The book takes the reader through the experiences, the emotions, the challenges confronted, the sacrifices demanded, and the decisions that needed to be made at different stages of a child's life. Thalia's family is at the center of this story. There were several critical decisions made by Thalia's parents, Donnie and Lorena. They were confronted with a traumatic reality that required perspective and patience, while fighting through moments of despair and sadness. It was Donnie and Lorena's determination that they would be part of the solution for their daughter that shaped Thalia's journey. It is Donnie's cousin, Lisa, who noticed Thalia's autistic behavior symptoms and delivered her initial learning therapy sessions. Each child that is diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum will have a different experience with the disorder. No two situations are the same. The following is Thalia's unique autism journey. Her Miracle of Effort. The book is intended to offer hope to the many families that are confronted with this disability. As Thalia says, "an autism diagnosis does not mean that a child cannot be successful. It just means that he or she will see the world in a different light." Thalia's simple hope is "to inspire autistic individuals to live up to their full potential and provide optimism to families."