Doctors told Erik Weber’s mother Sandy that he needed to be institutionalized, that he would never be more than an 18-month-old cognitively. But Erik Weber is now practicing special needs law and fighting to get more oversight and standards for group homes. Sounds like he proved those doctors wrong. He attributes a lot of his success to his mom’s love and perseverance, she helped him adapt to new environments and be comfortable in the way he learns. It wasn’t an easy road, going from no voice until the age of seven to being a voice for others as an adult, but it is a road that Erik is now on because his mother, others in his life and Erik believed and persevered. Every individual with autism has great potential and stories like Erik remind us of that.