• Marguerite Elisofon is the mother of 34-year-old twins, Samantha and Matt. • Samantha was diagnosed with autism as a toddler. • She is an accomplished actor and singer who continues to live with her parents.

This story is based on a conversation with Marguerite Elisofon, 69, a writer and special needs consultant from New York City. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My 34-year-old daughter, Samantha, has already chosen the song she'll perform at her twin brother, Matt's, wedding in May next year.

She's refining her version of Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath My Wings." Not that it needs refining: it was the highlight of her solo concert, "Daring to Dream," last month.

The event was a sell-out, and there was rapturous applause. The crowd's appreciation of Samantha made me prou

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