[McSwiggins]

Ah I see. My 16 year old has very bad autism. He cannot talk and it took him until he was 5 to walk. I had to place him in a home for children with developmental disorders because I could not give him all the attention and time he deserved because the woman I had married two years prior had just given birth to my twins. He was backtracking plus babies are loud and he couldnt take the volumes at which they would cry. People have given me flak and have even gone so far as to say I abandoned him. No, I put him somewhere stable where he could get better attention and help because he was not doing well. I had his best interest in mind and if that makes me a bad parent, then they have clearly not seen how some other kids are treated. He's doing a lot better now. He's progressed majorly in the 6 years he has lived there and his aides tell me he is a very bright kid and they love working with him. I stand by decision. I visit him on the weekends and will be seeing him tomorrow. He knows sign language and tells his aides that our visits are his favorite weekly events.

Its just too nad that your nephew is not getting the sort of treatment and help he needs and that that is how he is developing. That makes me sad. I wish him the best.

Autism is difficult. Its not a "Oh, here, just do this and you are going to be okay." There is so much involved in the healthy development of a child who is diagnosed.