Tonight I read this post…and then this post. They talk of eleven year old Teddy Willis who is autistic. With April being Autism awareness month, he thought it would be a perfect opportunity to share his experience with autism with his classmates during a class discussion, but was told he could not.
“During a morning meeting last week, when a teacher talked about autism, Teddy raised his hand to share his story. But he said he was taken aside and told that autism is something ‘personal’ he should keep to himself.”
Teddy said:
“I just want people to treat me better, like one of the other normal kids. If many people knew about autism, then they might think about what the person’s good at and not what the person isn’t good at.”
Read the entire Bucks County Courier Times article here.
The principal expressed concerns over privacy issues for others in the special education program and concern for those who don’t realize they are different. I find it very hard to believe that anyone is on the autistic spectrum or in special education classes, that doesn’t have a inkling that they are perceived as different, but whatever….
The article said this:
For this first year, though, [Principal] Dwell felt child speakers shouldn’t be part of the activities out of concern that students who attend special classes with Teddy might be singled out.
“I don’t want to have kids identified by association,” Dwell said.
Yes, you sure as hell wouldn’t want them to be associated with a boy who has a desire to reach out, educate, and relate with his peers. Gah.
I, however am proud to associate myself with a kid like Teddy. I am joining in to let Teddy be heard. Click here to watch what Teddy has to say. (I am from PA, and just hearing his “twang” makes me think of home. 
)
***Edited to add: Check out the update from Teddy’s mom, Irene Willis, in the comments. And the new article in the Bucks County Courier Times.***
6 responses so far ↓
1 // Apr 18, 2007 at 5:32 am
Hi, I am Teddy’s mom-yesterday in morning meeting they read a story about Aspergers-Teddy was allowed to contribute-he said he had Aspergers. About three sentences total-but it is a start! He hasn’t had outdoor recess yet so we shall see if a better day is yet to come…he hopes that if folks understand more about his disability that they will stop harassing him. He is speaking at the school board meeting tomorrow during public comment about autism awareness. Hopefully his efforts will be well received and there will be a trickle down effect for all children with disabilities. Thanks everyone for your support!
Irene
2 // Apr 18, 2007 at 6:28 am
That is a damn shame right there.
I know from my work with schools that there are often times good intentions at heart. As strange as it may sound, there is a lack of education for educators about ASD and that, coupled with the concerns about what the phone calls with reactions from the “other parents” will be (please don’t get me started on the experiences that I’ve had with some more narrow-minded parents of neuro-typicals and ASD kids alike) seem to create the end result of a muddy philosophy and no real, intelligent (common sense, even) way of handling these things.
That said, it’s still a damn shame. And the educators need more education. Thanks for the links and the post. It is great.
3 // Apr 18, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Unfortunate, but not unusual. I am “out” as bipolar to my bosses at work, but they have clearly indicated that “I don’t have to feel like I have to explain” myself when I take mental health days. I, of course, am trying to get more lawyers to get mental health care, by being open about the fact that I’ve got a biologically based mental illness and yet am fully functional.
BTW, I am glad to volunteer for Matt’s interview project, but it’d have to be either,
1) anonymous as BLC, so I don’t get “dooced” or
2) in my Clark Kent guise, without reference to my blog. I don’t want to impose conditions unecessarily, and I don’t want to stress Matt out by bringing this to his attention, so if you feel it’s appropriate to discuss it with him, I’d be glad to be interviewed.
BLC
4 // Apr 20, 2007 at 6:58 pm
From Todays paper 4/20/07
CR student takes mike, tells story
By KENDRA GENTRY
Bucks County Courier Times
Teddy Willis got his chance to speak publicly on Thursday night.
The Goodnoe Elementary fifth-grader, who has autism, recently spoke about his disability at his school after initially being denied. Thursday night, he addressed the Council Rock school board during its public comment section.
“I would like more people to understand my disability about having trouble with social skills,” he said into the microphone. “If they did that, then I wouldn’t be the least popular kid at Goodnoe and I would just be like everybody else.”
What came next was a surprise to both Teddy and his parents, Irene and Ted Willis of Newtown Township.
After leaving the board room, Teddy was introduced to Andrew Flinn, a 13-year-old seventh-grader with Asperger’s syndrome, a mild form of autism.
Andrew and his mother, Noreen, drove an hour from Coopersburg to listen to what Teddy had to say.
“My son, like Teddy, is picked on in school,” Noreen said. “We wanted to approach [my son’s] school about it but were also turned away.”
Andrew said the bullying he received was really bad a few years ago.
“Fourth grade was the worst grade for bullying. The kids started getting their kicks by picking on me,” he said.
Irene Willis, Teddy’s mother, said her son’s presentation before the school board not only raised awareness with board members, but to the district as a whole.
“Hopefully there will be more sensitivity training and people will embrace what Teddy feels like to have autism spectrum disorder,” she said.
Carol Bemmels, Teddy’s grandmother and a guidance counselor at Conwell-Egan Catholic High School in Bristol Township, said she was proud of Teddy and Irene for their comments to the board.
“Allowing kids with disabilities to speak for themselves is positive,” said Bemmels, who was the person who informed the Flinn family about Teddy’s presentation.
Irene said she was happy to meet Andrew and his mother. She said she hopes for similar connections with students at Teddy’s school.
“Maybe 10 kids will look beyond his disability and see that he is a child who wants to play and will want to be his friend,” she said.
As for Teddy and Andrew, the two already swapped e-mail addresses.
“I’m just glad he made another friend,” Noreen said. “It was well worth the ride.”
Kendra Gentry can be reached at 215-949-4206 or kgentry@phillyBurbs.com.
April 20, 2007 6:43 AM
5 // Apr 23, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Ugh, people are harassing him? Thats so sad. I was “harassed” all through elementary , jr high and high school… and it makes me shudder to try to think about another kid living like that! Hopefully all of this will make the other kids see Teddy for the hero that he is!
6 // Aug 5, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Update on Teddy Willis in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/bucks/nabes/20070805_Day_camp_promotes_acceptance.html
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