Teen with Asperger's wins recognition at LA Music Awards

By Staff Writer

This week, John and Noni Gauder, grandparents of the widely successful singer and songwriter, Sarah Lonsert, spoke to The Village Daily Sun about their granddaughter's struggle with Asperger's syndrome.

Lonsert was diagnosed with the condition in third grade. Noni Gauder said that Lonsert took a lot of different classes to try to overcome some of her social problems growing up. However, she sang all of the time.

Singing gave the young girl confidence, according to her grandmother, who added that she would frequently direct her siblings in at-home plays. Now, Gauder said, Lonsert has a four-piece band with her brother, the news source reports.

Over the years she has won numerous songwriting competitions and she has had roles in theater productions, including High School Musical 2 and the recently released film Secretariat. Earlier this month, Lonsert won the prize for Album of the Year at the Los Angeles Music Awards.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Autism Spectrum Disorders are reported to occur in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups, yet are on average four to five times more likely to occur in boys than in girls.