What started as a senior project is now helping local families understand autism through Elijah’s story

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A high school senior project has become a new resource for families across the region with children on the autism spectrum. Aiyanah Reed and her 5-year-old cousin Elijah have been close since he was born. As a toddler, she noticed he would line up his toys in a specific way, make loud noises or hum and tap his fingers. Eliajah was diagnosed with autism when he was 2 ½ years old. To Reed the way Elijah expresses himself has always been familiar, but she recalls a trip to Chuck E. Cheese a few years ago when Elijah was making a lot of noise and a little girl asked why. I told her, yea he s autistic and this is just how he regulates himself, this is just what he does and she was like okay, and she just went about her business so just seeing another child accept it so quickly is just very important, Reed says. That experience inspired Reed to write a children s book about Elijah. It s like a snapshot of his daily life, his routines, things he goes through w