This article describes the background and the grief, pain, illness, and trauma involved in the life of Ryean, a twenty-two-year-old young man with autistic characteristics. Replete with definitions of autism, the authors indicate which common characteristics of autism Ryean has and to what degree. Throughout the article, Ryean's professional educator parents integrate their own sense of coping with their son's condition and sensing hope for him. Illustrative of this hope are Ryean's current school-to-work transition and his parents overall goal of Ryean's growth and development through economic integration in the community.
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