Frankie’s Dream When Franklin was 3 years old, he was diagnosed with mild autism. Father: Frankie. Frankie, breakfast time. Father: O.K. We didn’t plan to have a son. Before Frankie, we already had a lovely daughter, Yolinda. Father: But when we knew we would have Frankie, we were very happy.He’s very lovely.Everyone loves him. Frankie: I haven’t played this part right. Mother: It doesn’t matter. Well done. Frankie: Momma, be quiet Momma. Mother: Sit better. Frankie: Momma, No! No! No! Mother: Sit better.What could you do when you were born?Could you eat when you were born?Could you run when you were born? Mother: Franklin was diagnosed with mild autism after he was born.He couldn’t take off his diapers until he was 6 years old.He wouldn’t make eye contact with others,and would scratch himself badly.At first we felt sad, even very desperate sometimes. Father: Frankie, walk fast.Yeah, Frankie did a good job!Go!During the last 3 years, we walk every weekend,and he love the – this kind of the good natures.You should put the water from the river in your hands.Wash your hands. Frankie: It’s too cold! Father: The water is good to drink!Look at me, just like this.Let me show you again. Frankie: I’m afraid of the cold water. Father: Look, you drink.Drink it.Is that good? Frankie: My hand is too cold. Father: It doesn’t matter.OK, later you can learn about this – Frankie: I’m so cold! Father: One, Two, Go! Ready? Ah! Father: Let’s challenge his limit. Mother: Don’t help him. Father: Walk from there, back to the big stone. Mother: Do it yourself.Use the pole.Put the pole in the river to make sure you can go.Go, go, go. Father: Just go for it, and you can make it. Great.More outdoor life and exercise will help Frankie to have more confidence. Frankie: What is the core of the atom? Father: What’s at the core of the atom? Frankie: Yes. Father: Um . . . Frankie: Nucleus. Father: Did you learn that in school? Frankie: It begins with, no –It begins with letter ‘n.’What’s the smallest thing ever? Electrons.Electrons are super, duper small. Father: Great!Run! Frankie: The smallest thing than electrons are quarks.What is a water molecule?A water molecule is 2 hydrogens and 1 oxygen. Frankie: Hi, David Turner, filmmaker! Father: Yeah. Ah. Yee! Frankie: I hate these notes. Mother: It’s past 8:30. Frankie: I can’t play anymore. Wah (screaming).No! No! I can’t play! I can’t!It’s past 8:30!Why am I always crying today?Not a good boy! Mother: Look at me, Frankie.Frankie, look at me. Frankie: I’m not happy about piano. Mother: O.K. If in the life,no music,we can’t listen to any sound –the world – what’s happening –what’s happening in the world.If you throw out some trash on the Earth,Earth will be pollution, right? Frankie: Wait! Wait!Music will,No music will cause the whole world pollution. Mother: Yes. Frankie: No music means more ugly. Mother: Yeah, you are so great. You are so smart. Frankie: More music, more beautiful.Less music, more ugly. Mother: Yes. Do you like ugly, or do you like beautiful? Do you like the beautiful . . . Frankie: I like music. Father: OK, dear Heavenly Father,Jesus, thank you for giving us a wonderful day. And we know you will give Frankie more encouragement and love.We really appreciate this.And give Frankie a bright future.This pray in Jesus’ name.Amen. Frankie: Amen! Father: OK, you have a good night, honey. Frankie: Can you go bye, bye? Father: Happy Saturday beginning!Many Chinese families with autistic children don’t like to communicate with others.Because of ancient Chinese culture giving the children who have difficulty growing up and their family some discrimination. Mother: Listen to me.You have to write your –your important people in your life. Like your mom.When we saw Frankie’s improvement,we started holding the Happy Saturday activity.To enhance the children’s communication skills.Whether disabled children or autistic children,any children, they are very happy.They don’t realize they are different from othersor feel discrimination.Whether we hold an activity or party,the most important thing is making society realizethat these kids are kids too.They have the right to be themselves. Father: What’s the one without the rings?The other one.This is? Frankie: Jupiter. Father: Oh, they have water in there. Look. Frankie: No, I mean liquid gas. Father: Liquid gas. Frankie: This one is the gas from Jupiter. Father: Oh, really?From here we can see what you are watching.Einstein is a wonderful man.Not talking too much –but very smart. Frankie: I want to be a scientist living on Mars.I have to bring the microscope,pour water inside the glass circle plate,and look closer to it,to look, what is the size of the atom.On Mars. Third Grade Progress Report Mother: Which part you need to do more work? Frankie: Social skills and work habits.What is the most important? Mother: Social skills –If you want to prove your social skills,how do you want to do? Frankie: Better! Mother: Yeah. Frankie: Half of it is social skills that has N’s,and half of the other has – What have N’s? They are the worst grade. Mother: If you want to say hello, do you have to see their eyes?Or do you want to see other? Frankie: I do not like eye contact. Father & Mother: Why? Frankie: Because I do not like to look at –Eyes.Others’ eyes.To stay on task is N. Father: Yeah, no what this one though –Visual and Performing Arts –Wow, excellent. School Principal or Teacher: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our third trimester awards assembly. It is so good to have all our students here. Frankie & other students: Yeah! School Principal or Teacher: And their parents so that we can celebrate all of the wonderful things that your children have done this year. The next award is a perfect attendance award for having perfect attendance all year long: Franklin Qu. Now, let’s give these students a big, big, round of applause. Thank you, parents, for getting them to school and being on time, many of them to school early. Mother: Look at Daddy. Father: Just like this. Frankie, look. Audience member: Oh, congratulations. Frankie: And my best is math. Mother: Yes. Father: How many years you stay with Frankie? Teacher, Miss G: 4 years for now. Father: 4 years. Yeah, thank you. Teacher, Miss G: But for the district, like 14 years. Father: We call, we call Miss G is Frankie’s school mom. Teacher, Miss G: Passions, like he wants to do –He wants to do, he wants to do good things, perfect –He wants everything to be perfect. Frankie, all his problems, he did it in his head,without using the scratch paper in math.Frankie did almost all the questions right.This is big improvement to all of us.Yes, he’s a man.And you’re the good, good parents.I am so proud of them. Father: Frankie used to stay in these two rooms.These two rooms is special educations.So in the beginning, like Miss G says,in the #1 room, Frankie cannot quiet.Frankie refuse to using the restroom.But he grows up very fast.When he move to the second room,Frankie was a top,good student.After 6 – almost 6 months, right?We asking the teacher release Frankie to the general education class.And he says, OK –you think that he’s good,but we think that he still need the special educations.And later I told them I really would like my son to move to the general education.And later, they allow.I appreciate it. Mother: We learned a big issue from Frankie.The issue of love.There is so much love in everyone’s heart,but it isn’t really explored.Frankie gives us a struggle,and makes us find the love treasure in our heart. In 2008, Frankie’s parents created a foundation to help autistic children and their families – naming it after their son. The Franklin Foundation. Every spring, they hold a concert for World Autism Awareness Day. And Franklin plays the piano.