SPOTLIGHT ON
SPECIAL NEEDS
Meet Aubrey Hamilton BY CHRISTINE CRADDOCK PHOTOS BY MYRA DOWNEY PHOTOGRAPHY
F
elicia Hamilton of Haymarket remembers feeling disappointed but not surprised when her daughter was diagnosed with autism at age three. As a one year old, Aubrey wasn’t walking or crawling or even emulating behaviors. But the official diagnosis “cemented it into our reality” and we were, “sent on our merry way” with no advice, resources, nothing. After she cried, Felicia says, “I went into attack mode.” She connected with the Autism Society, attending its Autism 101 class, and departed armed with an endless list of resources, information about Medicaid waivers, opportunities for one-on-one classes with professionals in the field, and a list of events designed for autistic children. Meeting and being able to share their experiences with other families was the icing on the cake for the Hamilton family. To this day, they participate in the annual Autism Walk as ‘Aubrey’s Angels’ to support the organization, get more information to families, and network with other parents. The next step in the Hamilton’s journey was getting Aubrey into school. This early intervention was key, and the structured
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HAYMARKET LIFESTYLE
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Now 10 years old, Aubrey is super spunky, sassy, and loving. Says her mom, Felicia Hamilton, “If children were taught to approach Aubrey and ask, ‘can we play with her?’ their lives would be enriched as much as Aubrey’s. Just give her the opportunity, and she’ll show you.”