Colin Fishing Colin Frisbee
Meet Colin Pacers
Colin Etchison & his Family
Colin Award
By Aaron Olson
Colin Etchison lives with his parents Don and Susan in Fishers, IN, and is a remarkable individual. Colin was born with Sotos syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, and despite many challenges, has had a number of accomplishments and achieved a sense of independence. 44 Special Needs Living • October 2021
Sotos syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by excessive growth during the first years of life and is often accompanied by cognitive disorders such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Early on, people with Sotos syndrome experience advanced bone growth and bone aging, and as a result, typically are much larger children and develop a larger than normal skull. The tallest teenager in the world has Sotos syndrome at 7’ 8,” though this type of growth is not typical. Sotos syndrome is also unique in its paradoxical existence as an autosomal dominant inherited trait, but 95% of cases are due to a “spontaneous” genetic mutation.
