Silent Girl With Autism Finally Speaks

Autism affects 1 in 68 children and 1 in 42 boys, according to Autism Speaks. It’s one of the fastest growing development disorders in the U.S. and continues to affect thousands of children on a daily basis. There is no cure.

Not everyone with autism will experience the same symptoms or struggles. Some individuals with autism are extremely high functioning while others may have difficulties with speech and motor coordination. Every child is unique. 

This young girl had a very unique case and is continuing to defy odds every day. 

Coco Bradford began speaking when she was two years old.

But then, she suddenly stopped talking. The Cornwall, England native was silent for three whole years. She used pictures instead of words to communicate. 

Coco, 5, has autism. 

Her speech eventually faded away, and shortly after, she stopped making eye contact and responding to her name. “You could tell she was just so frustrated,” Coco’s mom Rachel told Daily Mail.

“We tried a speech therapist but the last two years have been horrendous.

“You could tell [how] angry she was becoming with herself.” Coco’s family began an online fundraising campaign to help pay for her speech therapy sessions. 

The campaign has raised over 20,000 euros to date. 

One speech therapy session for Coco costs 50 euros. With these sessions, the family’s efforts and everyone’s generous donations eventually paid off.