He Was Never Supposed to Talk. Now His Parents’ Nonprofit Helps Hundreds of Kids Find Their Voice

Originally published by PennLive.

A doctor told Andy and Dorothy Ward that their three-year-old autistic son, Andrew, would never read, write, talk, or type. The Wards refused to accept that as the final word.

Instead, they built an intensive in-home therapy program, tracked down treatments that barely existed, and helped their son learn and develop.

Andrew is now 38, and he works, travels, swims, skis, and—despite his original diagnosis—never stops talking.

The Wards’ infectious optimism—and refusal to accept the status quo—inspired them to help other kids just like Andrew. So, in 2013, they founded Andrew’s Gift, a Harrisburg-based nonprofit dedicated to providing resources for students with autism.

Read more at PennLive.