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Greg Miller performs as Mason High School's Comet Man.

Ryan Harris "speaks" by forming sentences with pictures.

Donnie Oda is still learning how to communicate with those around him.

The three boys have autism, but each is at a different point on the spectrum of the disorder that affects 1.5 million Americans and impacts development in the areas of social and communication skills.

Greg Miller, 16

Greg Miller of Deerfield Twp. will leave behind a legacy regardless of what he chooses to do in life. The Mason High School sophomore is the official school mascot, dressing and performing as Comet Man for athletic events.

Greg plays sports and is involved in the school's art and drama clubs and the bowling league, and he is illustrating the pages of the book he hopes to write with his mother, Sue, detailing his battle with autism.

If you ask Greg, he has already won.

"I feel like, as I get older, the autism shackles are breaking off of my wrists," he said. "As I get older, I can go further with my potential."

Greg has come a long way from the 2-year-old who stopped speaking and the boy who communicated only in movie phrases to become the bright young man he is today. Although he was too young to realize what was happening, Greg's parents vividly remember the struggles of his childhood.

When Greg stopped talking, Mark and Sue sent their son to a specialist who diagnosed him with autism at age 2. They hired private speech and occupational therapists and sent him to a special preschool. They even went to Washington, D.C., for help from a leading autism doctor.

"Greg has worked hard, and so have the people who have supported him," Sue said, adding that his three siblings – especially his oldest brother and best friend Will – were a big part in his development, and so was the Mason school system. Sue expressed the importance of early intervention, citing Greg as "proof that it does work."

Greg plans to attend college away from home and possibly study digital imaging.

"I just want to go to a college that fits my interests," he said, expressing interest in participating in the programs offered by Wright State University and the College of Mount St. Joeseph's designed for students with disabilities.

While he tries to decide what to do when he grows up, Greg will try to leave his mark for others to learn from.

"To other kids with autism, if you see an opportunity that will help you become historical to other kids, go for it and don't just stand in the crowd," Greg said. Profound words for any person of any age.

Ryan Harris, 8

With a simple prompting of, "Use your words," Ryan Harris forms sentences with pictures to communicate with those around him. Like many children with autism, Ryan stopped talking around age 2 instead of increasing his vocabulary. His parents, Teresa and Paul, have taught him to use the picture exchange method, which allows him to use pictures of different objects to tell others what he wants.

"(Children with autism) need a way to communicate," Teresa said. "Before (using the book), he couldn't tell us anything."

Ryan began early intervention through Warren County MRDD at age 2 and now attends the Mason Early Childhood Center where he is able to interact with other students. Through MRDD, Ryan was assigned a therapist who came to his home to work with him and his family.

"By empowering the parent and coming alongside them (people working with your child), you will make the most effective outcome for that child," Teresa said.

Ryan's development to this point has not come without a cost, both financially and socially.

Teresa stays home with Ryan, and the family, which includes 10-year-old Ashley, can't participate in some of the activities they would like. Teresa and Paul said they are careful to nurture Ashley's interests while caring for Ryan's needs. While Ashley enjoys going to the library, Ryan is often too loud. She also likes roller skating, but Ryan is unable to skate. The family does enjoy swimming together and going to loud restaurants.

The family also has had coded locks installed on all of their doors so Ryan can't get outside alone or wander to certain parts of the house.

"You have to be on constant guard," Teresa said. "Many times children with autism do not understand actions that could be very dangerous."

The Harris family has learned through trial and error, but they also are educating themselves in every way they can, even by traveling to Texas next month to attend a training session with the Helping Autism through Learning and Outreach organization.

Donnie Oda, 10

Donnie Oda's autism does not allow him to speak. Donnie, who lives with his family in Clearcreek Twp., is considered to have moderate to severe autism. He doesn't speak, but he can read and excels in math. Donnie's mother, Linda, said he has developed his own form of communication with his parents and his 12-year-old sister.

Donnie had to see three doctors before he was diagnosed with autism around his second birthday. While two pediatricians said his development would catch up in time, the third suggested he might be deaf before testing him for autism.

Donnie is only now beginning to leave his shell and open up to the world around him, but routine is still very important to him, Linda said.

Donnie loves to swim, she said, but unless he suggests the activity, it can be a struggle to break from his normal routine to go to the pool. Even at school, Donnie goes through a ritual including putting his coat away and checking the calender for his daily events.

Although Donnie is growing into his own at home, he still has trouble at school because he tends not to trust people, Linda said.

"If you accept him at his level, you get so much from him," Linda said. Linda said she is trying to raise autism awareness as the public information officer for the Ohio Boards of MRDD.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4507 or rycook@coxohio.com.