The mother of a 16-year-old daughter with autism offers a parental perspective on coping with a child's disability. The paper emphasizes that through direct interaction with the child and the child's teacher and through taking an active role in the child's activities and achievements, the child's potential can be discovered and the child can be motivated to achieve it. The development of communication skills in the 16-year-old girl, through use of such techniques as "reverse echolalia" and having family members join in with her during her self-stimulatory acts, is described. The parents' role in educating and sensitizing the public, school personnel, and physicians about the needs of children with disabilities is also discussed. (JDD)