Uli K. Chettipally, MD, MPH

“Don’t worry dad. I am used to disappointments all my life”, said Siri, my non-speaking autistic daughter, using a letter board. That sentence hit me like a ton of bricks! Here I am, a caring and protective father, professionally successful, living in Silicon Valley, who would do anything for her happiness, sitting there helpless with tears in my eyes and the realization that I failed miserably. Siri is such a wise, caring and gentle person, beautiful both inside and out. She should not be...

“I will make you proud. I will study medicine” Siri, my non-speaking autistic daughter, expressed her aspiration to study medicine using a letter board. Questions flooded my mind: How would she communicate with patients given her significant challenges? While I recognize her intelligence, would she even be accepted into medical school? Are there others like her who have succeeded in this field?

“I am daddy’s little girl,” proclaimed Siri, my autistic daughter who is a non-speaker and uses a letter board to communicate. Siri is our firstborn of three children, followed by her two neurotypical brothers. I always wanted a daughter, while my wife hoped for a son first. Siri was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, which was the standard practice at the time.