(Karl Holle, 18, was diagnosed with autism as a toddler. Bismarck Tribune photographer Mike McCleary has followed Karl and his family since 1996, documenting his life at home and school with updates in 1997 and 2002. McCleary visited Karl earlier this month for his final days of high school. Click here to view a slideshow of Holle.)

At the end of the commencement ceremony last Sunday, Catherine Holle watched her son, Karl, shake hands with people as he stood in the receiving line outside New Salem High School with his 24 graduating classmates.

She put away her camcorder and walked to him. She leaned over and rested her head against his, placed her hand gently on his cheek and whispered how proud she was of him. Tears filled her eyes. She stepped back, turning away.

This was a big day. A milestone.

Minutes earlier, Karl walked across the small platform inside the school gym and received a certificate of attendance for successfully completing all of his academic requirements based on a modified grading scale.

"We didn't even think he would ever function in a school setting," said Catherine Holle.

Karl Holle was diagnosed with autism early as a toddler. The severe emotional disorder causes the brain to have difficulty processing information. The disorder interferes with his ability to learn, having appropriate social interaction and emotion control.

After a few years of home schooling Karl at their dairy farm northwest of New Salem, Catherine and Charlie Holle decided to slowly integrate him into the classroom setting.

"I was very thankful I kept him home until he could handle the school environment," Catherine Holle said. "But I had reached a peak with him. He was seeing me more as a mom, not as a teacher."

At both Prairie View Elementary School and at the high school the principals and teachers worked with the Holles to make sure he had a comfortable, appropriate and safe learning environment.

The students, staff and teachers accepted Karl with all of his weaknesses and strengths. "His classmates have always been good to him. They protected him," his mother said.

Karl has tested at adult levels for reading and writing, but has a fourth grade level in math and science and has significant speech and language delays.

But as his classmates move on to pursue their dreams, Karl's future is on hold for the next three years. Since he has turned 18 years old and is legally considered an adult, Catherine and Charlie are now Karl's legal guardians, as well as his parents.

This fall he will return to high school to continue the school's work study program until he turns 21. There he will job shadow with the school custodian, fold laundry at a care facility and stock shelves at the grocery store.

Once he reaches 21, he will be eligible for programs and funding to provide housing in a group home or apartment and care from service providers such as HIT Inc, Pride Inc. or Enable Inc. in Bismarck-Mandan.

"The school will do all they can. There's just not a whole lot out here right now," Catherine Holle said. "We'll explain it to Karl. I don't think he'll know the difference. He'll be putting in time for three years. That's what the fact are. It's a flaw in the system."

In the meantime this summer, Karl will be at home with his parents and siblings Jacob, 12, and Raymond, 3. He will continue to draw, use computer programs and help his dad on the farm. His older brother, Joe, 22, lives in Bismarck and sister, Sarah, recently completed her second year at Dickinson State University.

Catherine Holle is optimistic about the future programs available to Karl in three years.

"We've taken tours of group homes and visited with providers. The one thing I like is we can try it and if it doesn't work, we can move to something else. We don't have to stick him in something that's not good for him."

After the ceremony, Catherine and Charlie Holle walked with Karl back to the family mini-van in the school parking lot. Catherine Holle fought back the tears once again. The realization of the moment came to her.

"Eighteen years. We made it through this milestone, but we're still not done. There is more ahead. It doesn't matter how long it takes to make it work. We are so proud of what has become of him," she said.

Click here to view a slideshow of Holle.