I KNEW CONNOR was a very smart boy. He could read letters and numbers at the age of one. He was always happy, loved music and being around his family. Connor was my life and I knew no other joy but him. It was when he was almost three that I wondered if something was different about him. He didn't talk like other kids. His language was very functional in that he could ask for anything he wanted but there was no spontaneous conversation. When he tried to express his thoughts, it came out in a language I called Connorese. It was all his own and only Connor understood it.

I'd been told about early intervention programs in preschools and decided to see if Connor qualified for the speech program. When I took him in for the initial testing, he was very excited to be in the school. He helped the teachers set up the chairs. He explored the shelves lined with toys. After I filled out the prerequisite mountain of paperwork, we went into the testing room.

"Sit here, Connor," said a teacher, who looked like she was 12.

Connor sat as he was asked and looked at me. "Bonkers, Mom," he said, leaning toward my head.

I laughed and answered, "Bonkers, Connor," and lightly bumped his head with mine. It was our little game that Connor made up.

"What is that?" asked the 12-year-old playing school.

"It's a game we play," I replied. "Now, what do you need Connor to do?"

"He needs to follow our directions and point to the pictures we show him."

"All right, Connor," I said. "Point to the pictures, okay?"

Connor looked at me and then at the teacher. She opened a book full of line drawings and filed through it until she found a page with animals on it. I knew Connor knew all of the animals so I waited for him to start the test. (next)