Tyler Claussen Happiness can be shown, not said

When I think of the person that inspires me, I immediately think of my 10-year-old grandson Tyler Claussen. Tyler has autism. He was diagnosed with autism at age 2.

Tyler is a special young man who is unlike typical autistic children. He is happy, affectionate, smart and the most loveable little boy you could imagine.

My daughter describes Tyler as content. Tyler is non-verbal but we always seem to know what he wants.

Tyler's life is simple. He is happy being tickled, rewinding his video tapes, holding and listening to a musical book, swimming at a water park, eating a sucker and jumping on his trampoline in the back yard.

Tyler has taught me so many things. The most important is to be accepting of others, regardless of their disability. He taught me to appreciate the simplest things such as watching him print his name, seeing his smiling face as he opens a gift and it's a favorite book or video.

He has taught me to stop and be thankful, to be patient and understanding and to look at each individual as the unique person they are.

Tyler has gone twice to Austin, Texas, where he is learning a technique of communicating with an alphabet board. One of Tyler's responses he made on his last trip was to "take it day-by-day and just be happy."

That is what Tyler has brought to me, much happiness.

Submitted by Susan Kolle -- Tyler Claussen's Nana, of Beach Park