Giving a Voice to Children with Autism

GREENWICH, Conn. — Izabela O'Brien had competed in pageants in college and carried her beauty queen dreams into adulthood. But for years that's all they remained. That was until years of friends' affectionate teasing and encouragement led her to a Foxwoods stage in March, where the Greenwich resident was crowned Mrs. Connecticut America. "I saw the faces of all three of my girls and I just knew it was the right time," O'Brien said. "It didn't matter that I was one of the oldest contestants or it was 20 years since I had done my last pageant. I saw their faces and they were more nervous than I was."