I had a moment yesterday. I spent the last two days at a conference for parents of children with autism and professions who work with those kids. I learned so much. The speakers were amazing. They made it simple to understand and easy to apply to everyone, not just people with autism.

So I'm writing this story about it. I went to the whole thing, took it all in and have way more information than I can ever fit in a four column story. I sat there during the conference wondering how I was going to fit it everything the speakers said about how to help these people - how to make their lives better and how to include them in society. Then, I went to a meeting with the parents. That's when I realized what the story really is. The story is that these parents need help. They are desperate. They want the funding and trained professionals that the rest of the country has. They live their day-to-day lives wishing they had help, someone else who understands what they go through.

I knew then that I could help them. I can't give them the money they need or help their children directly, but I can be a voice for them. I can write their story and pass it on and maybe someone who matters will read it and something can happen. It was the first time I ever felt like what I am doing can make a difference.

I learned that my job isn't just to write a story. I have to immerse myself in the story. The more I know about it, the better I can write. I feel like now I have a better understanding of autism. Did you know that 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with it? Who is to say one of my future children won't be that one? And if they aren't, well I can still take what I learned and use it because it applies to everyone.

My story won't change the world, but I hope that it can affect someone. If it does, then I have done my job. I have no idea what I'm going to write yet. You will have to read it next weekend to find out.