Children with Autism typically struggle to make friends and maintain friendships...but Garret here found a way to reach out....this is a great video and needs to be shared!
Video Landing Page - ABC27 WHTM:
'via Blog this'
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Wrestler has a grip on beating odds - High school - NewsObserver.com
Wrestler has a grip on beating odds - High school - NewsObserver.com
West Johnston wrestler Zach Morrison, left, gets instruction from Wildcats coach David Prendergast.
BY JAY MUMFORD - CORRESPONDENT
BENSON -- Jim Morrison offers a simple, heartfelt answer when asked to assess Zach Morrison, a 195-pound junior wrestler at West Johnston High.
"Zach is just amazing."
Of course, that's the expected reply from a father who is proud of a son and his accomplishments.
And Zach's accomplishments are many: a first-year varsity wrestler on the Wildcats' 2012 conference championship squad, a record of 21-18 with 17 pins and an almost-certain berth in the upcoming 4A Eastern Regional tournament.
Not bad.
But Morrison is not your average high school wrestler. He is not even your average high school student. Ten years ago, he was diagnosed as autistic.
"Twelve years ago, Zach used to get sick at least once a month," Jim Morrison said. "At first we thought it was a virus, but it kept happening on a regular basis."
Soon after, Morrison suffered a seizure. Further tests led to the discovery that he had epilepsy. Months later, Jim and his wife, Jane, learned their son had autism.
Morrison no longer endures the seizures of epilepsy, but he still deals with shyness, though his father notes that his son now is "high-functioning on the autism spectrum."
Since becoming a member of the West Johnston wrestling program as a freshman, Morrison has become more confident in his ability to hold a conversation..
"Being a wrestler made me communicate with people better, " Morrison said. "And it has helped me make a lot more friends. It has helped me talk to people better and have better conversations with others than I ever could before."
Being able to converse is just one of the benefits Morrison has received from wrestling. He has built camaraderie, faith and trust in others.
Family encouragement
Morrison became interested in wrestling through watching professional wrestling on television.
Wanting to encourage his son's interest in something he was able to focus on for long periods, Jim Morrison approached his son with an idea.
"That's not real wrestling," the father told his son. "Why not try out for high school wrestling?"
Morrison proved a hard sell. "It took a lot of persuading," his father said.
But with encouragement from other family members, Morrison eventually bought in. Two cousins in Wisconsin had wrestled, and another cousin now coaches wrestling at Eden Morehead High.
Zach also has a twin brother, Adam, who wrestles at West Johnston, though he is out for the season, resting an injured shoulder.
Before his first semester at West Johnston, in the summer of 2009, Morrison learned of a wrestling camp. "I heard they had open matches during the summer," he said. "And I decided to come out and try it. It was pretty hard on the body, but after a while, you got used to it."
Jim Morrison said the camp was instrumental in building Zach's self confidence, which enabled him to make the team.
Zach Lychalk, who wrestles at 182 pounds, is one of Zach's teammates.
"We treat him like one of the guys," Lychalk said. "We all know he has autism, but we know we can put him in a position to win a match for us. He comes through for us, and we're all behind him with our support.
"... In his freshman year, he was real quiet. Wrestling helped open him up."
West Johnston's David Prendergast said Morrison is a coach's dream. "He does what he is asked to do and knows on the mat what he has to do," Prendergast said. "He never questions what is being taught or what to do - he just works his butt off in the wrestling room."
On the mat, Prendergast said, Morrison is able to sense pressure, which enables him to adjust accordingly: "He doesn't like to be touched, but he feeds off the pressure applied to him in certain places," the coach said. "He will look like he's slowing down or stopping, but what he is doing is trying to feel which way to go.
"He just has that uncanny sense of pressure and an awareness when he is on the mat."
'B' average in classroom
With 250 wins as a coach, Prendergast has seen a lot of great wrestling moves. But Morrison can be amazing, the coach said, referring in particular to a match in which he threw an opponent over his head and put his back on the mat.
"That would have been a sure five-point move in freestyle wrestling," Prendergast said. "Then, against Harnett Central, he used a standing, spinning cradle for a pin."
Morrison performs well in the classroom too, holding a B average.
"He wants to work in cooking, maybe be a chef," Jim Morrison said. "But that is not set in stone yet. He also is considering going to college. He would like to wrestle, possibly at UNC Pembroke."
For now, Morrison will enter Saturday's individual regionals with the same goal as every other wrestler - a spot in the state championship.
"He's the type of guy you want to work with in your program," Prendergast said. "He's going to work hard, be there at practice every day.
"Even if he never wrestled for us at the varsity level, it's still good to have him in the program."
Staff writer D. Clay Best contributed to this report.
West Johnston wrestler Zach Morrison, left, gets instruction from Wildcats coach David Prendergast.
BY JAY MUMFORD - CORRESPONDENT
BENSON -- Jim Morrison offers a simple, heartfelt answer when asked to assess Zach Morrison, a 195-pound junior wrestler at West Johnston High.
"Zach is just amazing."
Of course, that's the expected reply from a father who is proud of a son and his accomplishments.
And Zach's accomplishments are many: a first-year varsity wrestler on the Wildcats' 2012 conference championship squad, a record of 21-18 with 17 pins and an almost-certain berth in the upcoming 4A Eastern Regional tournament.
Not bad.
But Morrison is not your average high school wrestler. He is not even your average high school student. Ten years ago, he was diagnosed as autistic.
"Twelve years ago, Zach used to get sick at least once a month," Jim Morrison said. "At first we thought it was a virus, but it kept happening on a regular basis."
Soon after, Morrison suffered a seizure. Further tests led to the discovery that he had epilepsy. Months later, Jim and his wife, Jane, learned their son had autism.
Morrison no longer endures the seizures of epilepsy, but he still deals with shyness, though his father notes that his son now is "high-functioning on the autism spectrum."
Since becoming a member of the West Johnston wrestling program as a freshman, Morrison has become more confident in his ability to hold a conversation..
"Being a wrestler made me communicate with people better, " Morrison said. "And it has helped me make a lot more friends. It has helped me talk to people better and have better conversations with others than I ever could before."
Being able to converse is just one of the benefits Morrison has received from wrestling. He has built camaraderie, faith and trust in others.
Family encouragement
Morrison became interested in wrestling through watching professional wrestling on television.
Wanting to encourage his son's interest in something he was able to focus on for long periods, Jim Morrison approached his son with an idea.
"That's not real wrestling," the father told his son. "Why not try out for high school wrestling?"
Morrison proved a hard sell. "It took a lot of persuading," his father said.
But with encouragement from other family members, Morrison eventually bought in. Two cousins in Wisconsin had wrestled, and another cousin now coaches wrestling at Eden Morehead High.
Zach also has a twin brother, Adam, who wrestles at West Johnston, though he is out for the season, resting an injured shoulder.
Before his first semester at West Johnston, in the summer of 2009, Morrison learned of a wrestling camp. "I heard they had open matches during the summer," he said. "And I decided to come out and try it. It was pretty hard on the body, but after a while, you got used to it."
Jim Morrison said the camp was instrumental in building Zach's self confidence, which enabled him to make the team.
Zach Lychalk, who wrestles at 182 pounds, is one of Zach's teammates.
"We treat him like one of the guys," Lychalk said. "We all know he has autism, but we know we can put him in a position to win a match for us. He comes through for us, and we're all behind him with our support.
"... In his freshman year, he was real quiet. Wrestling helped open him up."
West Johnston's David Prendergast said Morrison is a coach's dream. "He does what he is asked to do and knows on the mat what he has to do," Prendergast said. "He never questions what is being taught or what to do - he just works his butt off in the wrestling room."
On the mat, Prendergast said, Morrison is able to sense pressure, which enables him to adjust accordingly: "He doesn't like to be touched, but he feeds off the pressure applied to him in certain places," the coach said. "He will look like he's slowing down or stopping, but what he is doing is trying to feel which way to go.
"He just has that uncanny sense of pressure and an awareness when he is on the mat."
'B' average in classroom
With 250 wins as a coach, Prendergast has seen a lot of great wrestling moves. But Morrison can be amazing, the coach said, referring in particular to a match in which he threw an opponent over his head and put his back on the mat.
"That would have been a sure five-point move in freestyle wrestling," Prendergast said. "Then, against Harnett Central, he used a standing, spinning cradle for a pin."
Morrison performs well in the classroom too, holding a B average.
"He wants to work in cooking, maybe be a chef," Jim Morrison said. "But that is not set in stone yet. He also is considering going to college. He would like to wrestle, possibly at UNC Pembroke."
For now, Morrison will enter Saturday's individual regionals with the same goal as every other wrestler - a spot in the state championship.
"He's the type of guy you want to work with in your program," Prendergast said. "He's going to work hard, be there at practice every day.
"Even if he never wrestled for us at the varsity level, it's still good to have him in the program."
Staff writer D. Clay Best contributed to this report.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
National Inclusion Project Conference
This looks like an AWESOME conference, I wish I was attending....but I hope some of you all can attend!
National Inclusion Project Conference
Let’s ALL Play!
March 7-8, 2012
Raleigh, NC
Sheraton Raleigh Hotel
Come gain knowledge and resources on the latest inclusive practices and network with others in the field! The conference will include training on serving families effectively, building lifelong friendships for children, achieving positive behaviors, preventing and handling bullying, and creating accessible activities among other topics. This inspiring event is for all people who desire to ensure no child sits on the sidelines.
http://www.inclusionproject.org/nip_userfiles/file/2012%20National%20Inclusion%20Project%20Conference%20Flyer.pdf
National Inclusion Project Conference
Let’s ALL Play!
March 7-8, 2012
Raleigh, NC
Sheraton Raleigh Hotel
Come gain knowledge and resources on the latest inclusive practices and network with others in the field! The conference will include training on serving families effectively, building lifelong friendships for children, achieving positive behaviors, preventing and handling bullying, and creating accessible activities among other topics. This inspiring event is for all people who desire to ensure no child sits on the sidelines.
http://www.inclusionproject.org/nip_userfiles/file/2012%20National%20Inclusion%20Project%20Conference%20Flyer.pdf
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Child's Own Studio
Now THIS is very interesting....I'm going to dig out some of my kids drawings!
How to Order:
http://childsown.wordpress.com/
Source: childsown.wordpress.com via Beth on Pinterest
How to Order:
http://childsown.wordpress.com/
LOVE THE BUS!
TIMS (Transportation Information Management System):
'via Blog this'
Feb. 13-17 is School Bus Driver Appreciation Week - Gov. Bev Perdue has proclaimed Feb. 13-17 as School Bus Driver Appreciation Week in North Carolina in recognition of the invaluable contributions school bus drivers make to education and student safety. Perdue encourages citizens to “recognize the excellence of our state’s school bus drivers and their record of safety.”
For more information:
Baker Summer Camp Program
Autism Speaks Baker Summer Camp Program will select eligible camps to identify scholarship campers and offers up to $5,000 in scholarship funds for campers with Autism Spectrum Disorder to attend a summer camp.
The 2012 Baker Summer Camp Grant Cycle is now open! Please read the information below to find guidelines and a link to the online application process:
Baker Summer Camp Program
The 2012 Baker Summer Camp Grant Cycle is now open! Please read the information below to find guidelines and a link to the online application process:
Baker Summer Camp Program
Monday, February 6, 2012
Casting for an upcoming feature film
Chrystie Street Casting has cast films like Young Adult, Precious, Shakespeare In Love, Good Will Hunting, Cider House Rules, Pineapple Express, The Wrestler and 200+ major movies, as well as the TV series Pan Am. The casting company is currently seeking a 12-17 year old boy with Down’s Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy for a supporting role in an upcoming feature film Labor Day. The movie will begin shooting during June 2012 in Massachusetts and will be directed by Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air). For additional information or if interested email a recent picture, age and contact info to: labordaycasting@gmail.com.
http://www.labordaymoviecasting.com/
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