Learn a little more...with a link!
Website Article: Kids Health, Autism | Find out the basics about autism.
Video: PBS LearningMedia, Move to Include, Autism in Young Children | What does autism look like in children?
PDF: The Autism Society, Growing Up Together | How can you be a friend to someone with autism?
Read the script:
AUTISM IS A DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER THAT CAN MAKE THINGS LIKE COMMUNICATION, AND SOCIAL INTERACTION DIFFICULT. IT'S ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MILLION AMERICANS HAVE SOME FORM OF AUTISM, AND YOU PROBABLY KNOW AT LEAST ONE OF THEM.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, RUBY FROM REVERE LOCAL SCHOOL WROTE TO US ABOUT HOW HER SCHOOL HELPS STUDENTS WITH AUTISM, WITH THIS GREAT LETTER: "IN MY SCHOOL WE HAVE TEACHERS WHO HELP THE KIDS THAT ARE SPECIAL. THE KIDS THAT ARE SPECIAL HAVE A DISABILITY CALLED AUTISM. THE SCHOOL GIVES THEM AN IPAD SO THEY CAN COMMUNICATE WITH US. WE ALSO GIVE THEM HEADPHONES SO THEY CAN DO THEIR WORK AND NOT GET DISTURBED OR BOTHERED."
FOLKS WITH AUTISM ARE OFTEN ALSO SUPER TALENTED. LIKE ERIC LOOK, WHO'S GIFTED WITH MUSICAL SKILLS. HE WAS INVITED TO PERFORM AT THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS' GAME AGAINST THE FLORIDA MARLINS LAST SUNDAY. REPORTER JONATHAN GREGG CAUGHT UP WITH THE BAND DURING THEIR PRACTICE.
JONATHAN: REHEARSAL TIME IS KEY WHEN THE BIG SHOW IS ONLY A FEW DAYS AWAY. THAT'S WHY ERIC LOOK AND HIS BAND ARE REHEARSING.
ERIC: I PLAY THE KEYBOARD.
JONATHAN: TWICE TODAY.
ERIC: I PLAY THE KEYBOARD. I DO A LOT OF GOOD SONGS ON IT, AND SOMETIMES I PRACTICE.
JONATHAN: LOOK IS 30 YEARS OLD, HE'S A MUSICIAN, SHARP-DRESSED MAN, AND HE ALSO HAS CLASSIC TYPE AUTISM.
JOE: A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH CLASSIC TYPE AUTISM HAVE DIFFICULTY IN COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE.
JONATHAN: BUT AS HIS UNCLE, BAND MATE, AND TOUR MANAGER JOE BANAS POINTS OUT, IF YOU LISTEN, LOOK FOUND A WAY TO REACH PEOPLE A LONG TIME AGO.
ERIC: WELL, ABOUT NINE YEARS SINCE WE STARTED THE BAND.
JONATHAN: BORN WITH A CONDITION THAT AFFECTS HOW ONE CONCENTRATES, COMMUNICATES, AND RELATES, ERIC LOOK DISCOVERED MUSIC AS HIS SECOND VOICE.
MICHELE: ERIC CAN NOT ONLY READ MUSIC, BUT HE CAN ALSO IN AN INSTANT, REPLICATE A MELODY, UPON HEARING IT.
JONATHAN: MICHELE MCCORMACK SIGNS BACKUP VOCALS ON THE JIM CROCE TUNES, BUT THIS WEEKEND, IT'LL BE A DUET AT MILLER PARK.
MICHELE: THE THING THAT'S GREAT ABOUT MILLER PARK IS THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO ARE THERE, AND ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF AUTISM, SO EVERYBODY KIND OF JUST RALLIES AROUND EACH OTHER.