Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu --> Newsletters NPR Shop Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Planet Money Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Son reflects with his mother about growing up with autism Jhovana Figueroa was diagnosed with autism when he was a toddler. For StoryCorps, Figueroa and his mom talk about his childhood and their hopes for the future. StoryCorps Sharing And Preserving The Stories Of Our Lives Visit StoryCorps.org NPR LISTEN & FOLLOW NPR App Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music iHeart Radio YouTube Music RSS link Sign up for the [TITLE] Newsletter Get perks with [Podcast Title]+ Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed. LEARN MORE --> Son reflects with his mother about growing up with autism May 15, 20264:44 AM ET Heard on Morning Edition By Esther Honig , Alan Jinich Son reflects with his mother about growing up with autism Listen · 2:54 2:54 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed "> <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5817609/nx-s1-9771487" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript Jhovana Figueroa was diagnosed with autism when he was a toddler. For StoryCorps, Figueroa and his mom talk about his childhood and their hopes for the future. Sponsor Message
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MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
It's Friday, which means it's time for StoryCorps. Jhovana Figueroa was raising her son on her own in Queens, New York. At 3 years old, Anthony wasn't speaking and was diagnosed with autism. Ten years later, Jhovana brought Anthony to StoryCorps.
JHOVANA FIGUEROA: Anthony, what are you hope for the future?
ANTHONY FIGUEROA: Well, when I was a kid, I wanted to become an astronaut, but now I don't really think so. Astronomy is still pretty cool, but I feel like you are more likely to make it in the NBA than become an astronaut.
FIGUEROA: What I think is whatever you want in your life, you can do it. Do you have a question for me?
ANTHONY: In a movie of your life, what are some scenes you'll never forget?
FIGUEROA: I remember you were not talking. You were not socializing. So it was hard for me to go outside and see other moms talking with the kids, and I was just talking by myself. Then at 7, you were in the bath, and I was playing with you with bubbles. When I went and I was looking for the towel, you called me - mommy. And that was the first time that you talk and the first time that you called me mommy. So I start shaking, and the only thing that I remember saying was, (crying) I'm coming, baby. I'm coming. You remember that?
ANTHONY: No, but it's beautiful.
FIGUEROA: I remember the first time that you request something. I was into the healthy food, and we were walking, and you see the pizzeria. And I say, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. And you make your best try to put two words together, and you say, I want pizza. I was so, so happy that I went inside and I buy the pie for you.
When other kids were playing outside, you were sitting down on the computer, starting receiving extra classes, receiving therapies. You telling me that was hard for you, but what did you do?
ANTHONY: I kept trying.
FIGUEROA: And where you are right now?
ANTHONY: I'm in eighth grade.
FIGUEROA: And?
ANTHONY: I am one of the best students.
FIGUEROA: You are the best student in the class. Anthony Gabrielle (ph), you have beautiful, beautiful heart. You overcome all the difficulties, all the obstacle in your life. I see my Anthony. I say, no, he's not a regular kid. That's right, because he trying harder than every kid that I know in my life. And I want you know that I'm really proud of you.
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MARTIN: Anthony and Jhovana Figueroa with caretaker Fatou Jaiteh in Queens, New York. Anthony is now in high school and wants to become a doctor. Their interview is archived at the Library of Congress. Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. Facebook Flipboard Email Read & Listen Home News Culture Music Podcasts & Shows Connect Newsletters Facebook Instagram Press Public Editor Corrections Transcripts Contact & Help About NPR Overview Diversity NPR Network Accessibility Ethics Finances Get Involved Support Public Radio Sponsor NPR NPR Careers NPR Shop NPR Extra Terms of Use Privacy Your Privacy Choices Text Only Sponsor Message Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor (function () { var loadPageJs = function () { (window.webpackJsonp=window.webpackJsonp||[]).push([[22],{1168:function(e,n,c){e.exports=c(321)},321:function(e,n,c){"use strict";c.p=NPR.serverVars.webpackPublicPath,Promise.all([c.e(1),c.e(2),c.e(3),c.e(4),c.e(82)]).then(function(e){c(3),c(1141),c(116),c(95),c(52),c(492),c(239),c(102),c(104),c(1142),c(144),c(1143),c(238),c(48),c(1144)}.bind(null,c)).catch(c.oe)}},[[1168,0]]]); }; if (document.readyState === 'complete') { loadPageJs(); } else { window.addEventListener('load', function load() { window.removeEventListener('load', load, false); loadPageJs(); }); } })();