I'm a single mom with a son who will soon be 11 years old. I don't have any living relatives & friends have mysteriously disappeared over the last 10 years.  However I am very lucky to have a sweet, beautiful boy who has fought with me to "recover". We are lucky.  I met a woman 8 years ago who worked with autistic kids.  She helped me with early intervention, etc.  The best thing she ever taught me was this "Don't be afraid to scream & bitch to get what you need for your child. You are a Mother Tiger and he is your cub".  I took her advice. Although we are considered low-middle class he has received a lot of services (w/out govt. help).  We live north of Orlando.  Everyone knows me. I'm known as "OMG! It's Billy's Mom!" by every school official, Dr.'s, social workers, etc. People try to avoid me like the plague but my son is now mainstreamed into regular 4th grade. I believe anything is possible for my son, if you don't agree, I will be parading in front of your office building with a big sign, LOL!