Let me tell you a story of why we are doing this walk. It starts with an infectious little 2-year-old boy named Devin, who we lovingly nicknamed "Devman." His smile and his laughter can light up the world. His wonderment and amazement of the simple things in life sometimes makes us wonder why we take such things for granted. He is a loving, affectionate, talented, humorous child. He is simply our pride and joy.

On March 6, 2006, Devin was diagnosed with autism. To some it would mean the end of all of your hopes and dreams, but not to us. We believe that he will lead a life full of laughter, love, and fulfillment.

April 8, 2006, we walked to support his dreams, his hopes, and his life. Devin is our son, a twin brother to Mackenzie, a grandson, cousin, nephew, friend, or someone you may have never met. Devin did not choose autism, it choose him. It did not happen to you, it happened to him. The greatest support we can offer him and children like him, is to support a cause that wants to invent a cure, to set up therapy to help the millions of other children that have been diagnosed with it and/or will be diagnosed with it.

Our greatest message to relay to others -- though Devin may have autism, he is no different from any other child. Please do not regard him as "different" or give him characteristics he may not have. He may be "autistic" but he would rather be referred to as simply "Devin", our little boy, our angel, our everything, our son.

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.