On a Saturday morning, I drove my son Andrew to a shoe store. We 1 the trip to arrive right when the store opens, for Andrew is a nonspeaking autistic（自闭症患者）and prefers to go shopping when it's not 2 .
After the purchase, I thanked the two clerks and headed toward the door. What came next only 3 when the inner voice told you to do things differently. 4 having Andrew point to the "thank you" symbol on the picture chart he carries with him, I held up his letterboard and asked how he'd like to 5 .
The picture chart only contains images that 6 his most frequently used words. The letterboard, however, 7 an effective tool. He can 8 more through the use of a letterboard—by pointing to individual letters on an alphabet grid（网格）. Using it requires 9 time and effort for him, though. He would not 10 use of the letterboard on his own. I need to present it to him and 11 his wishes if he pushes it away.
"Thank you," Andrew pointed to each letter. The two clerks' 12 almost dropped as they watched. One spoke up: "My brother Jason doesn't talk. Can I ask you…?" "Andrew, what do you think?"I asked, 13 that his patience might be running out.
Surprisingly, Andrew 14 started pointing to letters: "Tell Jason he will change everyone's opinion of him in 26 letters."I immediately 15 . Sometimes I forget just how powerful the 26 letters are. Just how powerful Andrew is.
