@lisalucier Thank-you for the introductions. Yes, I hope that this forum draws a good cross-section of discussion and experiences. Regarding sharing my story- this is the first time I’ve shared it, believe it or not. Until this year, I traveled quite a bit internationally for business and am now permanently back at our home here in Jacksonville. I would love to encourage newly-diagnosed families. I wish I‘d had someone to talk to way back when my daughter was diagnosed- people with real experience. I think at that time.... even the doctors were trying to figure it out!

In agreement with @mamacita ..... my daughter is also very sensitive to sound and a true empath. In fact, when one of us would walk into a room after a bad day, our daughter would take one glance and ask, “What’s wrong?”..... even without an expression on our face and before we’d say one word. This is contrary to what many people believe of an autistic person.

On another note, my daughter also has a photographic memory (HSAM is what it’s called, I believe.). She can remember details of “the room” in events that happened 20 years ago- even the colors people wore. She can recall the exact year that a pop song first came out- even the songs that came out in the 80s when she was a small child.

Yes.....amazing. But most of all as parents, we’re so proud of how she’s navigated the world.