Passing by the Moon: Life perspectives from a young man with autism--a collection of poems and short stories (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781977575081)

Austin Jepson is a 16-year old completely non-verbal young man who has autism. He also suffers from anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors and the effects of neglect early in his life. He was removed from the home of his biological parents at age 5, and was adopted by the Jepson family at age 7 after spending two years in foster care. At age 11, he learned how to communicate his thoughts, initially using a stencil board, and later using a computer or hand-held tablet. Prior to that time, he had no effective way to express his thoughts and demonstrate his abilities. Austin is a great example of why special needs individuals should never be underestimated and how much they have to contribute when given the opportunity. Austin lives in Monument, Colorado with his family and is currently a student at Palmer Ridge High School. This is his first book although one of his poems (Silence is Silenced) was published in the Spring 2017 edition of The Louisville Review, a national literary magazine.