My name is Sydney Krebsbach and I was born with Autism, but I did not found out until I was 8 years old where I was formally evaluated by a neuropsychologist in Anchorage and was diagnosed with Autistic Disorder.
I did not begin using one to two words until age two and I was not speaking in full sentences until age three. By the age of three my deficits in social communication were becoming more apparent. I entered a preschool program in Seattle for special children when I was three and enrolled in a similar program upon moving to Juneau at age four at the Mendenhall Preschool Program. I received speech therapy through the school district in Kindergarten until 5th grade. I received tutoring services through REACH to assist me with my homework from 3rd grade to graduation from High School. During high school I had an IEP and received special education services related to my autistic disorder.
My biggest accomplishment was graduating high school with honors. When I was 18 years old I had my learners permit, followed by a year later when I my drivers license at 19 which was another huge accomplishment. I have receive help with finding a job with an employment specialist from REACH. Across the course of my development, I had demonstrated marked impairment in my social interaction skills, has failed to develop peer relationships, and lack social and emotional reciprocity. I had a history with having difficulty with transitions and I have engaged in repetitive obsessive compulsive type behaviors.
I have had Autism for a long time but I have dealt with it. It has taken me years to overcome a lot of challenges I had to face along the way. There were times I just wanted to give up but I didn't I kept on trying until I accomplished it. My perseverance speaks so much to my great character. I never let my Autism stop me from continuing to try and work towards my future dreams.
Juneau, AK
