I walk for many of the same reasons you, the person reading this story, walk. My son, Kassan, or "K", has autism. Prior to his diagnosis, I associated autism with Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man). I remember when the doctor said, "Your son may be autistic." I said, "Artistic right? You mean artistic." I

couldn't believe what I was hearing, nor did I understand it. He was 2 years old then and he is now 8. "K" is also epileptic. He has been since about the same time he was diagnosed with autism. His speech was delayed but he knew a few words.

Kassan was 5 years old when he stopped talking completely. For two years, I helplessly watched my son grunt, and point, and do whatever else he could to get his point across. At the age of 7, he started talking again; a word here and a word there. I remember how beautiful it was to hear his voice again. He does not make complete sentences and he no longer calls me Dad. Kassan may not call me Dad with words, but when I look into his eyes I can hear him call me Dad. I am convinced that he doesn't call me dad because he loves me so much words simply cannot explain it :0). Therefore, he has to tell me with his eyes.

When "K" stopped talking, I looked into his eyes to try to understand him. When I did, I was lost in them. His eyes took me on a journey into another world. It was innocence that I saw. An unbiased, loving child who will never know the evils of man. He will only know the love we give him. I noticed that many autistic children he attends school with have that same look of innocence in their eyes. Look into them and you will literally see what I mean. It truly is something about their eyes!

I walk, we walk, so that people will understand that autism isn't the end of the world. Instead, it is an invitation to look at it in a different light.

The "K" team walked in Charlotte, NC on October 7, 2006.

This essay is part of a series called "Why We Walk" written by participants in Walk For Autism Research events. Click here to see other essays from this series. If you have a story you wish to share about why you walk, click here.