By Amy Moore

The News staff writer

GROVES — Daniel Lindsey’s love of dinosaurs was something his mother thought was a normal boy’s childhood hobby.

Knowing the names of his favorite prehistoric beasts and the details of their existence was nothing out of the ordinary, thought Denise Lindsey.

When Daniel starting telling his mother about dinosaurs she’d never heard of, she was amazed.

And as a player on his little league baseball team, Daniel often pretended to be a dinosaur on the field instead of paying attention to the game.

Slowly, Lindsey realized that Daniel’s personality was different that other children his age. He had what she called, social issues, but after he was put on medication for ADHD, Denise said Daniel was a new child.

However, the problems continued. Daniel couldn’t sit still at school and always wanted to touch his classmates - to feel their hair - and he continued to act like a dinosaur. Lindsey said teachers thought the boy simply didn’t listen or was uncooperative.

After a trip to a specialist in Houston, Daniel was diagnosed with Autism at 7-years-old.

“For me it was a relief. I always knew there was something else,” she said. “It was a relief because I couldn’t figure out what it was.”

Daniel, now 13, is still fascinated with dinosaurs but is able to carry on conversations and function as a ‘normal’ child.

To help the family cope with the diagnosis, they are a part of the Autism Society of Southeast Texas.

Lindsey is the current president of the organization and said the support group is a place where parents can turn for information about behavior, diets, dealing with school or other issues related to raising an Autistic child.

The group meets the second Tuesday of the month and alternates meeting places between the Lamar Speech and Hearing center and First Baptist Church of Nederland.

With over 200 people on their mailing list and over 300 people on their email list, Lindsey said the group meetings are a place where parents learn information and share stories.