Carson is an easy going and empathetic young man. If someone is crying, he will cry with them, as if he feels their pain. Carson is an incredible artist who will redraw something until it’s perfect, down to the glimmer in an eye. He has an infectious laugh that can light up an entire room. He is exceptionally smart and always a few steps ahead, especially when figuring out how to reach the hidden Oreos or waking up early just to have dessert before breakfast.
Before Carson’s autism and ADHD diagnosis, he experienced developmental delays and struggled with word association. At age five, he began reading but remained non-conversational, using mostly one- to two-word phrases to express his needs. By age seven, he was integrated into the general education classroom for 65 percent of the day, with the remaining 35 percent focused on needed supports. Although he is still limited verbally, he continues to read, write, and solve age-appropriate math problems. A major milestone came in first grade when his class published a book about animals, and each child read their page aloud. Carson confidently took the microphone and read his full five-sentence page about alligators without hesitation. He strives each day to be himself and continues to rise above what others once said he “wouldn’t” or “couldn’t” do.
Additionally, Carson is highly intuitive. He can “read the room” better than many adults and knows who is truly in his corner. He thrives with people who show him love, compassion, understanding, and belief in his abilities. If he senses someone may limit or dismiss him, he simply won’t engage. He enjoys drawing, reading, skateboarding, playing basketball, and swinging on a swing set. He continues to show that success is best defined by happiness.