Hi Fred,
Keith has a very nice school. Most of the kids except Keith. Some kids don't really like hasleing with him but most are ok with him. He is in a Lutheran School.
The kids in his 7th grade class Know he has an autism spectum disorder. They had been used to Alex another ASD boy in the class that has gone to school with them for years. He has Aspergers. The students at the beginning of the year were quite suprised that Keith didn't act like Alex. Although they had a few similarities such as wanting to be first in line, etc., they were not cookie cutter copies. This I think gave them more autism awareness. Autistics aren't all alike.
The wrestling team...I am not sure if they knew. The school staff may have told them. If not, they didn't know. Keith is a little odd, but he seemed well liked by the team. 4,5,6 graders made up most of the team. Keith was the only seventh grader and there was one eighth grader. (yesterday was the last match of the year). He wrestled yesterday and he lost on points but he wasn't pinned. I was so proud of him. I was happy that the kids supported his effort. I am going to search for a local wrestling summer camp for his age.
This is so great to Read, Janis - thanks for sharing. Do the teammates know that he has a diagnosis? It's great to hear that they are accepting of him. I'd love to know what the key is for these kinds of successes. You hear so much about our kids getting bullied and abused, but then you read about things like your son's wrestling team, or even that video with that J-Mac kid (basketball kid) scoring baskets and his audience of peers and teammates just going wild with support for the kid - I wonder, what's the difference? How did these kids endear themselves to their classmates? Is it inclusion or just a good school that deals with awareness in a proactive way? Is it just that the kids have a winning personality?Keith was in the area Lutheran schools Wrestling Tournament on Sunday. Boy it was long 5+ hours! It was crowded and noisy! 10 to 12 Schools were represented.
Keith did fine. He sat with his team and drank Gatoraide and watched and listened for his turns. He wrestled 3 different times (3 boys). He lost each one but.... he did better each match and almost won the last one!!!! I was so proud of his efforts and drive.
It was a very long day. In the middle they had a 15 minute break. Many kids practiced on the mats at that time. FOR ME this was the best part. I could see him wrestling and smiling and laughing with one of his teammates that is a year older NT. I felt really good watching him interact. He later warmed up with a helper that is in the 9th grade who volunteers. They had the same type of interaction. Friendships are hard for Keith as I am sure most of you can relate. This is the most interaction of this kind I have ever seen Keith have with someone who isn't Family.
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