“I am daddy’s little girl” - Siri

“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.

From the moment she was born, I sensed something was different. She had no eye contact or social smile, and outings were often challenging as she would become very unhappy until we returned home. In contrast, our sons brought a burst of social energy into our lives, which filled us with joy.

Our primary focus remained on Siri—how could we help her speak, interact with others, and receive a regular education? My wife and I spent countless sleepless nights attending therapy sessions, visiting doctors, and searching for schools that could accommodate her needs.

Over the past few years, Siri has made remarkable progress. She can now communicate using a letter board, express her thoughts, attend college, and excel academically. Looking back, all our efforts, even when uncertain, have proven worthwhile.

Raising an autistic child often demands significant time, effort, and resources, sometimes at the expense of other priorities. I occasionally wonder if our sons felt fully supported during their upbringing, despite our attempts to include all three in activities and trips.

One of the most challenging aspects is discerning which efforts yield benefits and which do not. Parents of autistic children often have varying opinions on what works, and it can feel overwhelming to navigate this complex landscape.

As a physician-scientist, I am committed to finding solutions to these challenges. With 7 million people in the US awaiting accessible biomarker tests, effective medications, and therapies that improve long-term outcomes, the need for solutions to comorbid conditions associated with autism is urgent.

I invite you to join me on this journey as we explore and build solutions together. Checkout and see what we are building: Siricatx.com , a digital therapeutic device system and Sirica.ai , an educational platform for neurodivergent learners.