Hearing the words, “your child has autism” is like a tiny crack in the ice that spreads until half of a glacier falls into the ocean, and leaves you just as cold. Imagine, now, reading these words on your autistic daughter’s report card: “failure to thrive in the classroom.” Failure to “thrive”? Was our daughter “dying” in the classroom? My husband and I had gone to New York City public schools, as does our son. Yet our daughter’s special ed. classroom in a local public school was adding to her demise. Thus began our search for a more “appropriate placement” for our daughter C., a setting where she would not just survive, but “thrive” and progress. Our research led us to QSAC Dayschool, which utilizes an ABA (applied behavioral analysis) approach to teach the students. C. had made some strides while receiving ABA during Early Intervention, and we felt that we had found a match. After many evaluations, two and a half years of red tape, and finally an impartial hearing, she was allowed to attend QSAC Dayschool and Afterschool in 2008. Fast-forward to March 1st, 2010, when our daughter received the Queens Council on Developmental Disabilities Celebrating Success award for outstanding achievement! Or to June 25th, 2010, when she sang a Miley Cyrus song with a fellow classmate at the first-ever Dayschool graduation! C. has made tremendous progress in her new home and the Dayschool has become our family’s home, too. We participate in the much-needed Parent Support Group, parent training classes, and the Sibling Support Group. The QSAC organization provides us with service coordination and support in all aspects of having a family member affected by autism. No child fits a mold, particularly the “special child”. When we were cast adrift by the public school system, QSAC was our lifeline. We will be forever grateful to the courageous founders of the QSAC organization, and to the dedicated professionals there who continue to work on behalf of families such as ours.