Dick Swanson's secret powers

Illustration by Kou Moua

Missoula Independent reporter Erika Fredrickson tells the story of Dick Swanson ('The ordinary life of an extraordinary man') in the latest issue of the weekly newspaper.

Here's a sample: "Dick, who is 57, can be intimidating with his 6'6" frame, especially for strangers when he raises his voice or stands too close.

"He was sitting on his porch recently, drinking a diet Mountain Dew, when I asked him what it meant to him to be autistic. It means having habits, he said. His voice was abrupt and robotic. How old was he when he learned he had autism? He can't remember."

 Read the story here.