Ben is a biracial man in his mid-thirties who lives in his own home with support from a local human service agency.  He builds mission style furniture in his shop next to his house.  His friends and support people care deeply about him; his family believes in him.  What makes his life both unique and complicated is that Ben also has autism.

This book, written by Ben's mother, Sue, relates how Ben and his family worked to get to this point.  From the time he was adopted at five months to the discovery of his autism in preschool, through elementary and high school, his parents were convinced that he should be fully included among his peers who were not disabled.  At sixteen, Ben began using Facilitated Communication and established his ability to read, write, and have meaningful thoughts.  After graduation, Ben wanted to work, he wanted to move out of his family's house, and he wanted his own life.  That is what this book is about.  The story is rough at times, funny, filled with resilience.  It includes Ben's words, too, and you can't help but recognize this is a sensitive and thoughtful man, a beautiful man with autism.