Biography
When Mary Romaniec’s son, Daniel, was diagnosed with autism she soon learned how little the medical community understood about this disorder, which is now claiming 1in 150 children in the United States. Driven by desperation and a sense of urgency Mary began long nights of researching the internet, speaking with other parents and attending conferences that discussed ways to treat autism. Treat autism? Yes, the common notion given by the established medical community is that autism is not treatable. Meanwhile a legion of parents has discovered how wrong the medical community has been on this subject. Contrary to the wide-spread myth that children cannot be treated successfully for autism, Mary Romaniec, was able to unlock the door that lead to her son losing his autism diagnosis and declared recovered by the age of four.
With her background as a buyer for a large retail chain, Mary used her negotiating and research skills to benefit her son. It was not a matter of IF he would recover –she knew he would—but WHEN. It was a battle cry against autism and victory for Daniel. She took this sense of outrage at what caused her son’s autism and used it to pull her son through the long, dark tunnel of despair toward hope. In her efforts to find the answers for her own son she soon began to reach out to other parents who were just beginning their journey through the autism nightmare. Her efforts to offer information, when no one else would, allowed parents to feel they were not alone and they could do something to help their child recover and/or improve.
In addition to mentoring hundreds of families around the U.S. and the world, her articles about autism have appeared in Mothering Magazine, Autism/Asperger Digest, Autism Today and Journeys Magazine. The articles are also listed on autism related websites. She has appeared on radio and TV programs to discuss the idea of recovery in autism and special needs issues in general.
Mary lives in Grafton, Massachusetts with her husband, Richard and three children, Theresa, Daniel and David. She continues to offer advice to families on special needs issues and volunteers in various civic activities.
