Classical assembly educates students on autism

LYNN – Lynn Classical High School student Kyle Sutherland, 18, schooled his classmates Thursday about what it’s like to live with autism.”I have Asperger’s. I look very similar to you,” he said, sporting cargo shorts and a golf shirt. “But it makes everything I do difficult.”Asperger’s Syndrome is on the autism spectrum and includes difficulties in social interaction as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.Sutherland, along with author Susan Senator, Special Education Head Christine Lyman and Special Education teacher Jessica O’Brien each spoke during a school wide assembly recognizing National Autism Month.Sutherland admitted that speaking before the entire school was very difficult for him. Sometimes simply walking down a hallway filled with clamoring students is difficult but he works daily to overcome the hardships, he said.Senator, author of three books, is also the mother of three boys, the eldest, Nat, 23 is “severely” autistic.”I don’t even like to say it that way because it implies a negative, but I do it because it’s the easiest way to understand where I’m coming from,”she said.Having a child with autism has taught Senator and her family a lot, much of it learned through trial and error, she said. Senator said when she learned in 1989 that Nat, who was then 3 years old, was autistic she headed to her local library where she found exactly two books on the subject. One was so technical she couldn’t understand it but the other one gave her hope, she said.Since then she has written two books and numerous articles on the subject, and one important lesson that she has learned is that “happily ever after” is relative. She said she grew up with the idea that she would go to college, land a great job, get married and have a wonderful family, and she did.”It just didn’t look the way I thought it would when I was 17,” she said. “But we’re happy.”She and her husband have slowly figured out the puzzle that is their son.”I’d say we’re a B- at this point,” she said. “Every now and again we get an A.”Getting him involved in Special Olympics helped, creating books for Nat to explain what to expect in certain situations has helped and an afternoon tickle session proved to be a real eye opener.”I realized then that all he really wanted to do was connect, he just didn’t know how to,” she said.Senator reminded students that nearly everyone faces some adversity in their lives but children with autism want the same things they do, to have it all – to be happy.Sutherland wasn’t the only autistic student on hand for the assembly. O’Brien brought up students who participate in the school’s COACH, Creating Opportunities for Autistic Children, Program. The kids introduced themselves to the crowd, saluting and waving, and received a rock star reception of whistles and cheers from their peers.”Our main focus is to give these guys the skills they need to be successful in school, in life and as adults,” O’Brien explained.O’Brien explained some of the characteristics autistic children might display and warned students to be sensitive and like Senator reminded them that in the end all the students were very much alike.”They want friends, to be happy and be understood,” she said. “Just like you.”Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].