Hi! My husband and I are the parents of a non-verbal 18 year old. He was also diagnosed with intellectual disability at level 3, same as his autism. Intellectual disability was called back in the day mental retardation and that diagnosis hurted me the most. My husband and I have been in your shoes. Only by the grace of God we go.

Believe me when I say this, our children have the ability to learn and do things never thought possible. My son has learned new skills he did not have before and he’s now able to say some words and to communicate his needs much better. Our childrens’ life have the same value as every else’s and God can use them in a mighty way.

My son will not be able to live on his own, not an easy thing to accept. However, he has taught us to value things that we usually take for granted. I cannot change the past, I have no control over the future, and we just ask God to help us now, in this present time. We are just trying to help our son to gain a little more independence even when it may look different from the rest.

May you have a blessed night!