I have people send me this link regularly:
I’m always so chuffed when people take the time to forward something that might be of interest to me. Have a look – this clip is a beauty. A lovely teenager with autism gets his chance on the basketball court and absolutely shines – elevated to hero status by his supportive peers cheering him on. It is truly moving.
It also annoys the crap out of me.
When I see this clip, it makes me want to scream “So what? You think the only thing a kid with autism can do is fetch water for the team?” Why, oh why, did it take so long to get that kid on the court? Why, oh why, is there such shock that he can actually play well?
I think a part of it is that a lot of assumptions are made about children with autism, the most popular being that children with autism have learning disabilities. Nowhere in the diagnostic criteria for autism is there mention of learning disabilities. Basically, if a child with autism appears to be LD, chances are the professional team needs to shape up and find more effective teaching strategies. So, it’s time to stop being shocked when you meet a kid with autism who is “smart” (whatever that means). There is no reason for that kid not to be.
I’d be fine if my kid had LDs, just so happens he dodged that bullet. But either way – autism or LDs, I’d expect him to have a shot at being on the basketball team. My kid is doing the regular Gr. 5 curriculum. He started French Immersion this year, is a helpful big brother, has fun with his friends, goes to Cub Scouts, loves the ‘Bone’ books, has a growing RESP for university, drives me crazy on his Nintendo and plays an awesome game of hockey. Note that water boy duties do not make the list. I do recognize that the kid in the video gained a lot from his role as team “manager” – it provided him with the opportunity to be involved and feel a part of the team. But there’s a lesson to be learned here about expectations. Let’s set them high, folks.
I don’t want to take away from the awesomeness of this clip – the community spirit and the raw support for this kid is out of this world. I really did cry….moments before I got a little annoyed.
RSS
Awesome and so articulate. You are truly a beacon to be reckoned with. Lou xo
Hey Julie,
I agree with you 100%. I had the same feelings as you when watching this video. As for setting high expectations, I see this as a teacher as well. The higher the expectations (within reach of course) the higher the children seem to rise. It is so important to have high expectations for our children. In class I notice that it gives them confidence knowing that someone really believes in them.
KUDOS! Well said! I refuse to allow Connor to be pidgeon holed either, or any of my kiddos for that matter, they excel or fail by their own actions, not by their labels (I notice Mabel’s makes labels for stuff…not people
hehehe…sorry had to add that)
But again…well said!!!
argh…that video ticked me off…it started out so insulting, like they were doing him such a big favour by letting him on the court…then ended quite condescendingly ‘ooh he’s our celebrity….a superstar’ Obviously it’s fantastic that he got his chance to shine, but that should be HIS glory, not the school’s glory for being ‘that great school in Rochester that lets kids with Autism play basketball’ …ugh…just insulting.
interestingly when you talk about ‘smart’ kids it made me realize that of the functioning/high functioning kids with Autism taht I’ve met, most all of them have some particular niche where they really excel for various reasons…whether it’s because they have a knack for remembering extraordinary details or an ear for music, whatever.
great post!
kudos. It is a cute video but why isn’t he on the team regularly! Obviously he’s good but because he’s autistic being good is a surprise.
I agree Julie! I think people don’t think enough in to it. So many people are watching that going “Well awe, how nice of them to do that for that “poor boy!” Those are the same people who throw $5 at a charity just so they can say “I donate to charity”. They don’t see that is is completely ridiculous and they made such a spectacles of him and as you said, why was he not given the chance like everyone else from the get go?
Toni-Lynn
P.S. I have also received that video about 20 times last week!
I relate completely with this post. My eyes welled up with tears when I watched this video clip too, but I emailed my brother who sent me the link and explained that this is precisely why we have chosen not to share our son’s dx with many people. We’ve only told about 5 or 6 people. We fear that once aware of the dx, people will lower their expectations of our son. I never want this to happen because I’m a firm believer that people will live up – or down – to the expectations that are set for them. We don’t want people to pity our son or to view his achievements as if they are a consolation prize for his challenges.
Thanks for the great post. French Immersion, eh? I thought I was setting expectations for my son high, but that gives me something new to chew on….I need to reevaluate my own assumptions about autism.
You’ve hit the nail on the head! If the bar is set high kids have something to reach for.
Can I tell you the relief I am feeling? I half thought people were going to comment about how I can never see the good in things
Ah, the life of a part-time cynic!
Sandy – I gotta say, the FI is working out just fine. It was super hard at first….mostly around his organizational skills, rather than language (having to be organized for two different classrooms…yikes!) BUT, I don’t know that throwing a second language at a kid with a communication deficit is ideal. I did it because in this particular situation there were tremendous SOCIAL benefits to the decision. We are monitoring the FI thing very closely….so far, so good.
Right on. I focus on my kid’s strengths, not his challenges. He works at grade level and I push hard to see that the school comes up with every realistic and viable accommodation out there… and they do it with smiles on their faces, because they believe in him, too.
Yes, kids with autism, ASD, LD’s, PDD NOS, et al, are special… aren’t all kids special? When people stop seeing challenges and start recognizing abilities… aah…what a wonderful world this would be.
I totally agree with you. Why is this such a shock for some people.
When I was in grade 6 my mother had my brother, Logan. Logan was born with Downs. Although not the same as autism, people still have somewhat the same views.
Now being only 12, I did everything I could to hide this disability from my peers. I was afraid of what they might think. Kids can be mean at that age.
Looking back now, I wish I would have had the courage to tell it to the world. Logan has Downs and I’m proud to be his brother.
Logan is challenged mentally, yes, but there is so much he is blessed with that I can only hope to aspire to. Never does a hateful thought come into his mind. His heart is as big as a truck.
Watching this video I did almost tear up. But I didn’t share. It’s 2009. Isn’t it too late for this to be a surprise. Shouldn’t we be more advanced in our expectations of all children with any special need.
Logan can do anything he puts his mind and heart to. Not only because he is more than able, but because his family has instilled in him the idea that nothing is impossible.
More people need to realize someones disadvantage could be their advantage.
Thanks for sharing your true feeling.
Chris
Such a good point! I never even thought of that when I saw that clip.
I didn’t find it amazing that he has autism and was able to play basketball. I found it amazing that he got SIX three pointers during his first game! My 4 year old nephew was recently diagnosed with aspergers but I don’t really see that he’s all that different than any other kid. By that I mean that every kid is unique and has their own quirks. People just need to accept that. None of the other 4 year olds care, they do a much better job of accepting him than some adults.
Man, I am learning… learning everyday how to deal and look at things. I feel like I am falling more but that’s ok… I am learning, and for that my beautiful daughter will have a better chance.