June 4, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 11 Canadian teen provides fresh insight into autism While much is still misunderstood about what goes on in the minds of an autistic child or adult, one young woman has been opening the eyes of thousands. Carly Fleischmann is a Canadian teenager who was diagnosed with autism at a young age. While she is unable to verbalize her thoughts and was long believed to be academically impaired as well as autistic, Fleischmann proved she is cognizant and quite intelligent after she first began expressing herself through typing, which allows her to share her thoughts. She even offers some insight as to why autistic people engage in certain Field Day promotes fitness The Learning Experience in Waldwick concentrates on developing children’s minds while also emphasizing physical fitness. With the help of mascot Flexi Flamingo, children learn about healthy habits through games and exercises. Flexi leads the children through exciting games that help build lean muscle, promote strong bones, and control weight. At Field Day, children played parachute games, field hockey, and had relay races. Visit waldwick.tlechild- care.com for details. behaviors. For example, Fleischmann says she covers her ears or thrashes parts of her body because she is trying to block out some of the external stimu- lation that she finds overwhelming. She wants people to know that the information some of the “experts” are offering is incorrect, and she urges people to have a more open mind regarding what autistic children are able to understand and do. People can learn more about Fleis- chmann’s story by visiting her website, CarlysVoice.com. She also has coau- thored a book with her father entitled “Carly’s Voice.” It is available at major retailers.