My name is Torri. I am 21 years old and I am currently a senior in College at Buffalo State obtaining my Bachelors degree in History this coming May. I have Asperger syndrome, which is a high…

My name is Torri. I am 21 years old and I am currently a senior in College at Buffalo State obtaining my Bachelors degree in History this coming May. I have Asperger syndrome, which is a high functioning form of Autism Spectrum Disorder. If you knew me as a child, or were part of my family, it would be hard to believe that I would come this far in life today, accomplishing and living life presently as people would refer as "normal."

When I was an infant at two weeks old, I was having respiratory problems due to cows milk. I then had my first round of immunization shots and the doctors still proceeded even when I was sick. I then began having multiple ear infections and no acting normally for an infant at my age level up to two years old. I was also given antibiotics for the ear infections, which my mother to this day believes that and the immunization altered my autism. I was then tested and diagnosed with autism at two years old at a speech development program, after my parents not getting answers from my pediatricians. According to test results that I currently still have on file today, I was a "passive infant", had no interest to people, had speech delays at my age level and was prone to throwing multiple temper tantrums on a daily basis. But I had very good memory and knew tunes to songs without using words. For example, I had a sesame street phone and would get angry and throw the toy when people interfered with me and when left alone, I would dial the numbers correctly and mind you, did this at two years old. I also enjoyed self stimulation by squeezing and chinning people and hand flapping. That was when my parents decided to go further into research to help me.

My parents and a cousin of mine who has a son with low-funtioning autism/PDD began doing research and going to conferences through Autism Society (ASAF) . My parents then changed my diet to a gluten-free and dairy-free diet which helped me alot with more communication and verbal speech. The problem with that was that I craved dairy and gluten foods such as chocolate, cakes, ice cream, pizza, ect. and didn't like much of the diet I was on as I got older. So my parents then put me on B suppliment vitamins such as B6, Magnesium, and DMG while eating the foods I enjoyed and it helped me with behavior and communication. I did enjoy ricemilk and would still drink it to this day when I get the time to buy it myself.

When i was four, I began going through Heritage Centers which is a program for families with disabilities. I did respite and summer camps which helped me make friends until I was 12. I went to pre-k through one of their schools and was recommended to go to a regular school due to me picking up traits and behaviors from other kids with multiple disabilities. I was then sent to a montessori school with my sisters with decent classroom size and hands on work with regular kids, with personal Occupational and Speech therapy. I was doing very well with these accommodations and the school decided to take those away when I was in 6th grade because they felt I no longer needed them. My grades began to go down so I was then tested for IEP and was given extra time and space for testing and resource classes with other students with learning disabilities. I then went to High School at Middle Early College in Buffalo which is a 5 year program for kids with struggling grades to be able to obtain a high school diploma and a Associates degree, going to school year round. I had resource classes and the appropriate accommodations which was the turning point in my life. I graduated with an Associates degree in Office Technology and decided to continue my studies today.

Today I am on the road to success by finishing school and hoping one day I can share my story to the world to help parents, kids, peers who are going through the struggles today with autism. There are still times I struggle with balancing school, my emotions, discomfort to newer challenges but I will overcome the challenges. I am a typical college girl who works as an advisor at Delta Sonic Carwash part-time, I go to college full-time and on my time off, loves to hang out with friends, goes to bars and clubs on weekends, having relationships with men and loves to have fun like any young college student. If I were asked if i'd wish that I never had this disability, I would disagree because I have learned and lived through a success story to come. Nothing can change me.