Local mom turned autism advocate hopes to share her message with the WNY community

Clarence residents Molly and Matthew Pitman are parents of two children, Donovan and Charlotte. Now 14, Donovan was diagnosed with autism when he was 23 months old.

"When our daughter Charlotte was about three years old, she asked me why Donovan did not respond when she said, 'I love you.' While I was caught off guard, I used her bond with our family dog, Makeo, as a teachable moment," said Molly. "Makeo plays with you. He gets excited when you come home and he even lets you cuddle with him. Makeo shows you his love without saying a word. Charlotte seemed to have a better understanding, and so did I."

As the parents of an autistic child, the Pitmans threw themselves headfirst into their situation, trying to learn as much as possible while embracing every moment, every smile and every milestone. Eventually, Molly wrote and published a children's book titled "Love Without Words" to help other families - both touched and untouched by autism - gain a better understanding of what some families deal with on a daily basis.

"Today, Donovan is a sweet, sincere, innocent, honest, beautiful, brave, smart and funny young man," Molly added. "Our family was also fortunate to know professionals in pediatrics and early childhood education, and we, in turn, now offer our support, guidance and direction to other families dealing with an autistic child."

For example, the Pitmans have opened a business - Sweet Charlotte's- an all-inclusive preschool designed to meet the needs of children of all abilities. The school is located at 10255 Main St. in Clarence.

Contact Molly at sweetcharlottes@yahoo.com or call 359-6510 for details. You can also visit her website at sweetcharlottes.org for more information.