*This is based on true events. All names used in this article are made up to protect the privacy of the individuals they represent.*

When Kiki was in kindergarten, her teacher Ms. Simmons noticed that she was a little different from the other children in the class. Kiki was different from the other kids because she would often find it hard to sit still in her chair. She would often get up and walk around the classroom even when the teacher was talking to the class. During play time, Kiki would play all by herself while the other kids played in small groups. There was even this one time when Kiki had to go to the bathroom and came back to the classroom with her pants down. These behaviors brought up some concern in Ms. Simmons to the point where she wanted to talk to Kiki's mother Terry. Ms. Simmons and Terry agreed on having Kiki tested for Autism.

The results: Kiki was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS).

Asperger Syndrome is a part of the autism spectrum. It is a disorder that affects a person's social skills and communication skills. That is the main reason why Kiki always preferred to play alone as opposed to playing with a group of her peers; she didn't know how to interact with them. Some other characteristics of Asperger Syndrome include: high functioning, strong interests in specific topics, fear of loud sounds, etc. Kiki has all of these characteristics as well as some other characteristics such as a fear of being surrounded by a large crowd of people and getting overwhelmed when there is a lot going on at once.

When Ms. Simmons found out that Kiki was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, she knew why Kiki's behavior was so much different from that of the other children. When Kiki moved on to first grade, that's when things got a little sad for both Kiki and her family.

Back in first grade, Kiki had a tendency to ask questions that a lot of people would consider "stupid", struggled a lot with classroom assignments and homework, and had a hard time staying in her seat. What is the sad part of Kiki's first grade experience you may ask? Well, her teacher and the teacher assistant both thought that Kiki had to go to summer school or transfer to a special school that specializes in serving students with disabilities. It's almost like they thought she was too stupid to stay in a regular public school; it felt like a punch in the gut. Kiki's family was having none of that. They fought for her to stay in public school because they knew she could do it and you know what? Kiki remained in public school for the rest of elementary school, for middle school, and for high school! She was clearly underestimated when she was in first grade. In fact, Kiki was on an IEP (Individualize Education Program) throughout her public school years and they decided to take her off of it for junior and senior year of high school. She never let her disability stand in her way of coming so far.

Where is Kiki now? Back in high school, Kiki had a goal of going to college so she could get a good job when she grows up. Well, her dreams came true because now, Kiki is currently finishing her junior year of college. Yes, you read that right; Kiki is in college. This fall, she will be in her senior year and on this time next year, she will be preparing to graduate from a 4-year college and preparing to go out into the real world. In fact, her social skills are a lot better compared to how they were back when she was in elementary and middle school. Now she can easily talk to people without anxiety kicking in and be in a conversation without sitting there feeling awkward.

Hats off to Kiki for coming such a long way and kudos to her family for believing in her. Never underestimate an autistic person. They may be different, but that doesn't mean that they can't achieve great things in this world.

April is Autism Awareness month, so be sure to light it up blue!