01/07/2026
Yesterday, my 12-year-old son said his name for the first time in his life.
For most families, this sounds impossible. For autism families, it's reality.
Alec has never answered "What is your name?" Not through years of ABA therapy, speech therapy, school supports, or family practice. The question was always met with refusal.
This created a serious safety concern. We taught him our names, our address, our phone numbers, emergency protocols—but the first thing any helper, first responder, or concerned adult asks a lost child is "What's your name?"
We even asked if he didn't like his name. I was ready to legally change it if he'd give us something he would say. For one week, he insisted on "Vacuum Cleaner." (I did not file that paperwork.)
Yesterday in school pickup, his teacher waved me over. I braced for the usual "rough day" conversation. Instead, she smiled and asked him: "Hey, what's your name?"
"Alec Morgenthal."
With the biggest grin I've ever seen.
I burst into tears right there in the carline.
We'll never know why it took 12 years and 4 months. He had his reasons, and they were valid to him. But this was the victory we needed to start 2026—the kind most parents will never have to celebrate because they take it for granted at age two.
It's also one less thing I panic about at 2 AM when I worry about who will advocate for him when I'm not here anymore.
Why I'm sharing this professionally:
I run Wander Off Travel, specializing in accessible vacations for families with neurodivergent travelers. I understand that "small" victories aren't small. I know that what looks like stubbornness is often something else entirely. I've learned that breakthroughs happen on their timeline, not ours.
When families tell me their child "won't" do something, I don't hear defiance. I hear they haven't found their reason yet.
So if you see us out traveling—at the airport, on a cruise, exploring a new city—ask Alec his name.
Watch him smile. Hear us cheer. Celebrate with us.
Because every win matters.
