My first experience caring for a special needs child changed my life profoundly. I was 17, and in an ROP class designed for proper preparation for careers with children. When the school year started I began working with a non-verbal 9-year-old little girl. A month before I was to graduate, after months and months of seemingly unfruitful effort, she said "momma" for the first time. It was then I knew that working with special needs children would be my life passion. As fate would have it, two of my nephews are also autistic; one verbal and one non-verbal. Nothing pleases me more than the look on their face when they master a new task or concept!