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Danville schools more aware of autism

May 11, 2012

I have a 21-year-old son with autism. When he started school at Toliver in 1997, he was one of two in the Danville system with the official diagnosis of autism. How things have changed!

Statistics recently released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that one in 88 children have Autism Spectrum Disorder. Though the statistics are alarming, awareness is ever-increasing.

An event occurred April 17 that I would never have imagined in 1995. The Danville High School baseball team declared “Autism Awareness Night” at Admiral field. With April being Autism Awareness month, and the team anticipating a large crowd as it took on crosstown rival Boyle County, it was the ideal choice.

There was autism awareness jewelry for sale in support of the Wilderness Trace Child Development Center as well as assorted baked goods and bracelets made by students in support of the Danville Behavior/Autism Cadre. However, the highlight of the evening was the presentation between the varsity and junior varsity games.

Keely Bowling, a Hogsett student, stood on home plate and read a wonderful paper she wrote about her hero, who is her younger brother, Easton, who has autism. Keely educated the crowd about autism that spring evening with her heartfelt words and experiences.

Following her presentation, Easton and another student with autism who attends Bate Middle School happily threw out the first pitch. There was joyous clapping and lots of tears as those two young men celebrated with the team. It was a special night.

The Danville baseball team now proudly displays a sign at the entrance to the complex in support of autism awareness.

As a mother who felt so all alone in the mid-1990s when I found out my son had autism, it was a celebration of sorts to see so many people learn about autism. Am I happy that autism continues to rise? No. But I am proud to see my child’s alma mater is committed to knowing all it can about how to educate children with autism. YES!

Thank you, Danville schools, for caring!

Melissa Montgomery-Caudill

Danville

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