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Dear Oprah,

My name is Michelle De Florio, I live in Spokane Washington and I have an 18 year old son name Christopher who was diagnosed with Autism when he was 2 years old.

I have seen your show on autism 2 times now, and while I found it to be very informative and factual, I feel that so much about this complex disorder was left out and I fear that many people in America will see just the one side of Autism that you have shown.

Persons living with Autism are not all what was shown, my son is a high functioning person living with Autism. He struggled daily with social, emotional and has issues with depression, and life is not easy for him, but he has a job, graduated form high school with a 3.6 GPA and was not in special education classes, and his senior year he was able to participate in the running start program and one has a year of college behind him, and will graduate from the local community college injure of 2008 with his associated arts degree, and plans on getting his bachelors in sociology, and dreams of going onto get his masters.

No he is not a savant, does not play the piano, sculpt, is not a wizard in math, and yes he came talk, although he does choose not to at times but he is a teenager. These are the question that most people ask me when I tell them my son has Autism.

My fear is that people will not see the other side of the world of Autism, these kids do grow up and become adult that live in our world, where are they? Please show us that side of this disorder inform the public that there is hope for persons with Autism once they are adults.

Temple Grandon is a professor at Colorado state and an adult living with autism, and has a wonderful book no the subject of her life as an Autistic person.

thank you for taking the time to read my letter, and I hope that with your powerful voice you will be able to gather more information on this subject and get it out to people of the world, and give the parents of children with autism the hope that they have had stripped form them and let then know there are opportunities and chances for their children to live happy, fulfilled and productive lives

What does the future hold for my son? Really I don’t know, but I know if I keep him the box he was put in when he was 2 years old that’s where he will stay. I hope he fulfills his dream of a college education, someday will marry (to the most understanding woman in the world) and have a family of his own, and if that’s not what happens that’s okay also.

Sincerely,
Michelle De Florio

Shellyrae68@yahoo.com
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I liked Oprah when she was not so full of herself. I guess my dislike started around the time when she decided to put out her own magazine and only paste pictures of herself on the front cover. She does seem to give plenty of gifts and donations to people (good for tax reasons I am sure and undoubtably a small percentage of her overall wealth) but for once it would be nice if she did not make a production over it. I will gladly take these words back and maybe even watch again if she could simply do one show without going into a speech about herself.

I used to be a regular viewer of the Oprah show but quit watching when it became all about Oprah. She seemed more involved in herself. When she came out with her magazine that features her on the cover all the time, that was enough.

Oprah, you are not an expert at all things in the world. You won't let anyone have a complete thought or sentence. You may as well be the expert, have a topic to discuss, be the guest in which you will interrupt yourself. Then it will surely be the Oprah show. I love you girl, but I am completely feed up, would like to hear your guest views.