Life devoted to children with special needs

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/education/life-devoted-to-children-with-special-needs/2433422.aspx

When Gay von Ess completed her training and started as a preschool teacher in the late 1960s, she felt an instant attraction to the two special needs children in her care.

''I really felt they were more interesting than the mainstream children,'' she said.
She quickly moved into the area of special education and has been helping Canberra families with children with autism and Aspergers syndrome ever since.

Today she receives a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division for service to people with autism spectrum disorders and their families, as an advocate and educator.