Eren Tataragasi

Richmond County Daily Journal

Emily and Michael Tucker had no idea anything was wrong with their only child — until a pediatrician told them so.

After several trips to Duke and UNC Hospitals, Scott Tucker was diagnosed with Autism when he was 4-years-old.

“It makes him who he is,” said mother Emily Tucker. “It’s been a challenge, but it’s a learning thing and a mystery every day because they’re so smart so we learn something every day. They’re intelligent individuals and some of what they know is just a mystery to us.”

Tucker’s son is now 8 and she said he’s doing well in school where’s he’s been “mainstreamed” into a traditional classroom setting.

Tucker, who is the president of the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce, described Scott’s Autism on the mild/moderate spectrum and said his problems lie mainly with communication.

“It’s more of a communication barrier,” Tucker said. “To be around him he acts and looks like a normal, growing boy, until you try and have a conversation with him. He repeats lots of things. He gets very engaged in movies and video games and he repeats a lot of what he sees.”

And because Tucker still doesn’t understand all there is to know about this mysterious diagnosis, she’s become involved with the Autism Society of North Carolina.

In the last few years she’s attended their meetings and events and is now hoping to start a chapter of the Autism Society in Richmond County.

“Me being a parent of an Autistic child, I wanted to get something started for parents, grandparents and families who are affected by Autism,” Tucker said. “There’s still a lot I don’t understand and I think a support group would help with that.”

Tucker said the Autism Society has already begun sending letters to the families of Autistic children in Richmond County - information Tucker doesn’t have access to for privacy reasons.

The interest group meeting is scheduled for Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. until noon at First Health Richmond Memorial Hospital in the third floor auditorium.

During the meeting Ann Palmer, director of chapter relations for the Autism Society of North Carolina and Essie Davis, a parent advocate, will speak.

“I have a special interest in it because my heart is in it,” Tucker said.

Tucker said the best way she can describe Autism is with a quote she has in her office that breaks down the letters that spell Autism.

“Always Unique, Totally Intelligent, Sometimes Mysterious,” Tucker said. “It says a lot about Autism. It kind of sums it up.”

Interested?

If anyone is interested in attending the interest group meeting or finding out more about the Autism Society, call Tucker at 557-5071, or 895-9058.