"I said my child is being left behind because she can't read. Help me find somebody to help teach her to read," says Judy Dutton.
Just a few years ago Dutton's autistic daughter did not know how to read or write.
She recalls asking Marlie's teacher if she will ever see her daughter do either, "She said, 'mom,' I will never forget her words, she said, 'we just want her to be able to read to her babies'."
Marlie's teacher, Mrs. Cleveland spent countless hours working with Marlie to make that dream a reality.
"Today she reads probably at a first-grade level," says Dutton.
Which is a huge accomplishment, especially when you are not expected to even be able to read anything.
"We're making progress now. I can see that she is moving along a little bit," she explains.
Judy has seen her daughter evolve and come out of her shell since she's been working with her teacher.
"The relationship they have built is priceless."
Marlie has learned so much in the past few years and even sat down with me to show me some of her impressive skills.
Judy says the feeling she gets knowing her daughter can do something as simple as reading and writing is a feeling she cannot describe.
"I''m very thankful that she can read," says Dutton.
Just a few years ago Dutton's autistic daughter did not know how to read or write.
She recalls asking Marlie's teacher if she will ever see her daughter do either, "She said, 'mom,' I will never forget her words, she said, 'we just want her to be able to read to her babies'."
Marlie's teacher, Mrs. Cleveland spent countless hours working with Marlie to make that dream a reality.
"Today she reads probably at a first-grade level," says Dutton.
Which is a huge accomplishment, especially when you are not expected to even be able to read anything.
"We're making progress now. I can see that she is moving along a little bit," she explains.
Judy has seen her daughter evolve and come out of her shell since she's been working with her teacher.
"The relationship they have built is priceless."
Marlie has learned so much in the past few years and even sat down with me to show me some of her impressive skills.
Judy says the feeling she gets knowing her daughter can do something as simple as reading and writing is a feeling she cannot describe.
"I''m very thankful that she can read," says Dutton.
