A Letter From the President

Faith Krutsinger, 14, from Lanark, wrote a letter to President Barack Obama about her dealing with Asperger syndrome (AS), an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

On October 12, 2012, to her surprise, she received a reply.

The president thanked her for taking the time to write, saying “I have been moved by many Americans’ letters describing their personal challenges, and I appreciate your sharing your experiences with me.”

Obama stated that his administration is working “to address the hardships people like you are facing. . . families are grappling with many difficult issues, including family separation or illness, job losses, difficulty in paying the mortgage or rent, and staggering medical bills.”

Obama concluded the letter by saying, “As we work together to improve the lives of all Americans, please know that the trials and triumphs of Americans like you motivate my Administration to work even harder to overcome the challenges before us. I am confident we will emerge from these tough times stronger than before with a renewed promise of a better future for all.”