I read before I talked.

 Wasn't the best at showing that I was listening or even looking like I was paying any more attention to whatever, in reality, I observed and absorbed everything. That included books.

Many have come to me wondering how I could read even though I could not speak. Answer for that is I knew what the words were, I knew how they sound, I knew what they meant; But I could not speak the words.

There were electronics such as computers and video games nearby, but I grew up reading books. I could read them by myself silently or I would have Mom read me some books to me before going to bed. Those nights were special. I understood what I was reading with my mom; When I had the ability to speak, we would take turns reading out loud each night.

I still read today. Most of the time I would read out loud much more clearly than I would do when it comes to talking freely. Back in middle school I would use a notebook to write down what I should be saying to someone trying...

Red Shirt
Name: Sally

5 Favorite Hobbies:

1. Reading
2. Watching nature documentaries
3. Researching frogs
4. Playing around with sound design on the computer
5. Doodling on her tablet

5 Favorite Things:

1. Frogs (would catch one and keep it as a pet for one day before letting it go)
2. Fast food
3. Animated shorts
4. Sports (Baseball’s her favorite sport)
5. Even with being caught up on new technology, she has a soft spot for tech from the 90’s and early 00’s (2000’s).

5 Strengths:

1. Friendly
2. Interested in all kinds of people, autism or otherwise
3. Detailed oriented
4. Organised
5. Never afraid to ask for assistance; whether it’s for her or for other people

5 Weaknesses:

1. Even with a tablet, she would still be afraid of whether or not she will say the right words
2. She cannot talk (oftentimes would wonder what she would sound like)
3. Difficult to make clear eye contact; May look like she’s not paying attention or not interested but she in most cases, she always is interested
4. Would...

Name: Tyler

5 Favorite Hobbies:

1. Writing
2. Snowboarding
3. Dancing
4. Reading
5. Competing (in sports or other games that can be challenging)

5 Favorite Things:

1. Animals
2. Toys
3. Video Games
4. Things that go fast (cars, planes, and trains for example)
5. Music

5 Strengths:

1. A colorful mind in the world of imagination (cleverly creative)
2. Open minded to any kind of entertainment such as music and movies
3. Fearless
4. Focused
5. Fast learner

5 Weaknesses:

1. Finding his words in the correct order when talking
2. Gets a bit upset when people don’t understand him or when they see him as questionable
3. Facial expressions can be difficult at times when expressing emotion
4. Loud noises and vibration on the ground is overwhelming
5. Embarrassing moments keep coming back to him, and whenever he thinks of them, he’s not fully in the present. Extremely hard to forget them and wishing it could have all been different.

Family: Divorced parents and raised by his mother from the time he was eight years old; his father is...