Moved by article on autism help

The article by Peter Schworm on hand-held devices that help students with Asperger's and high-functioning autism communicate appropriately, and placed on the front page of Globe South, was so moving (''For autistic students, social skills from a hand-held device" April 23). One of the young men he interviewed was my son Timothy. It showed students with autism in a positive light.

Our kids are not most likely going to be the athletes (unless it is Special Olympics) in the paper, or those receiving a high honor. They may be in the paper because they have wandered off somewhere and have cost the towns a fortune to find them, or are blamed for the rising cost of special education, but a positive story does not come around too often.

I received many e-mails from parents of children dealing with autism saying ''great idea, and they even put us on the front page -- WOW." I do hope Peter Schworm gets an award for this article. Yet even if he does not, he has the appreciation of parents of children who deal with autism.

Joanne McLaughlin
Foxborough

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