When Ava Bullard was two and a half years old, she was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact to varying degrees. Those with autism commonly struggle with social and conversational cues, as well as physical hypersensitives.
At two years old, her mom, Anna Bullard, took Ava to three different doctors because she was still unable to physically or verbally communicate, despite babies on average beginning to talk when they are 12 to 18 months. The conclusion was that Ava would likely always struggle with communication her whole life and would need special education.
