Cheering for Autism Recovery! Give Me an A! Give Me an R! Give Me an I!
Friends, grab a pom pom to wipe your eyes when you read this wonderful story of autism recovery success, and pride. Keely's Mom is Kendra Pettengill, a long time autism advocate who credits ARI along with school staff and good friends with Keely's outstanding success. But it's Keely herself whose words ring truest, "Impressive!" Congratulations to the family. Keep the hope!
GLIDE, Ore. -- Last week, the Glide Wildcats had their first home game of the season. At that game, there was one cheerleader who was cheering for a lot more than football.
Kendra Pettengill's daughter Keely is on the cheer leading team, but there was a time when she wasn't sure it was best for her daughter. "I was thinking this was the last thing she needs, is to be on a cheer squad," Kendra said.
But, Keely made the varsity cheer squad for her sophomore year.
She's not like most cheerleaders: she's autistic.
Shelby Mehlhoff, a Glide senior, talked about Keely's work ethic. "She comes out and gives it her all everyday," she said.
Sidney Fucciolo, a junior, agrees. "She's came a long way. You can tell she's matured and growing into a woman and getting out of that girl stage," she said.
Keely isn't just making progress on the squad. Her mom says she's also doing well in the classroom.
As of the end of last school year, she has been pushed out of her special education classes into regular courses. "At one point, one specialist said she'd probably end up in an institution," Kendra said. "I laugh and say, 'Yeah, she might: College.'"
High school can be rough for some, but Kendra gives credit to Glide High's nurturing staff, and to some not-so-mean-girls on Keely's cheer squad. "I think they push her to be a better person," Kendra said.
But more importantly, the main success lies with Keely herself. "It's very impressing to me that I have autism and I think it's really, really amazing for someone who has autism to do the best they can," Keely said. "I think it's impressive." Read the full story at KPIC news.
Follow Up: Kendra posted this comment, well worth sharing here in the body of the post.
I sent the link to this story to several of my Autism Mom friends with the following....The local news wanted a feel-good back to school story and wanted to tell Keely's story. We have ended on the cutting room floor before when I talked about the serious issues surrounding autism, the epidemic, vaccines, lack of resources, etc. So I agreed to the story and the reporter really wanted to do more, a bigger story on recovery and beating the odds but her bosses said no. But she put in the part about ending up in an institution, so I got a word in anyway. It appears to be what I speak out against a lot....another fluff piece about a high functioning kid that does not represent the majority of kids on the spectrum, that allows once again for Joe Q. Public to see autism as quirky kids that they used to just call weird, that they have always existed we just called them something else and that there is no epidemic of Autism because the media never shows the devastation, the reality for too many families. But on the other hand, I tried to convey that this was not always the case for us, that recovery is possible even when the initial prognosis is grim. In the end, it was a feel-good, back to school story but I am so proud of her and it was great to see her recognized, she works so hard at everything. And I hoped that everyone could see from the video that she is not just a cheerleader with Autism, she's a cheerleader, and a very good one at that....this is not charity or pity, she earned that spot and is excelling at it and in turn in school as well. Thanks A of A for sharing. One proud Mom, who never thought in a million years I would become a cheerleader Mom! Never thought I would be worrying about what she is learning from a great group of High School Girls. I picked her up once at Midnight after a far away game, the bus pulled in and my very tired girl as she was loading her stuff in the car said, "Mom, what's a Vagina?" My head whipped around to the other girls who took off running, laughing, while saying "Sorry Mom, we may have corrupted her again." I chew them out, but inside I am smiling, it's another form of education, and it just feels typical, things a teenager should know... not say...but know. Another away game tonight, we will see what corruption occurs this time....LOL! Never Give Up! Who knows what the future holds?
I was told once that my son would not pass First grade. Not only did he pass, but recently graduated Junior High with Honors and is starting high school in mainstream education. We have had him involved in baseball since an early age and I think it has done wonders for him. I also have to say, that we would never be in this place, nearing full recovery, without his amazing doctors and teachers!! Keely's story had me very choked up! I am so proud of her!
Posted by: Laura | September 13, 2013 at 06:04 PM
gosh- I still remember working to get ya'll to the 2006 Recovered Kids talk in Seattle! Can't believe how grown up Keely is!
Posted by: Tami | September 13, 2013 at 05:15 PM
I sent the link to this story to several of my Autism Mom friends with the following....The local news wanted a feel-good back to school story and wanted to tell Keely's story. We have ended on the cutting room floor before when I talked about the serious issues surrounding autism, the epidemic, vaccines, lack of resources, etc. So I agreed to the story and the reporter really wanted to do more, a bigger story on recovery and beating the odds but her bosses said no. But she put in the part about ending up in an institution, so I got a word in anyway. It appears to be what I speak out against a lot....another fluff piece about a high functioning kid that does not represent the majority of kids on the spectrum, that allows once again for Joe Q. Public to see autism as quirky kids that they used to just call weird, that they have always existed we just called them something else and that there is no epidemic of Autism because the media never shows the devastation, the reality for too many families. But on the other hand, I tried to convey that this was not always the case for us, that recovery is possible even when the initial prognosis is grim. In the end, it was a feel-good, back to school story but I am so proud of her and it was great to see her recognized, she works so hard at everything. And I hoped that everyone could see from the video that she is not just a cheerleader with Autism, she's a cheerleader, and a very good one at that....this is not charity or pity, she earned that spot and is excelling at it and in turn in school as well.
Thanks A of A for sharing. One proud Mom, who never thought in a million years I would become a cheerleader Mom! Never thought I would be worrying about what she is learning from a great group of High School Girls.
I picked her up once at Midnight after a far away game, the bus pulled in and my very tired girl as she was loading her stuff in the car said, "Mom, what's a Vagina?" My head whipped around to the other girls who took off running, laughing, while saying "Sorry Mom, we may have corrupted her again." I chew them out, but inside I am smiling, it's another form of education, and it just feels typical, things a teenager should know... not say...but know.
Another away game tonight, we will see what corruption occurs this time....LOL!
Never Give Up! Who knows what the future holds?
Posted by: Kendra | September 13, 2013 at 04:17 PM
Impressive indeed! Especially when I think back to the video footage of Keely struggling so profoundly as a small child. What a delightful young woman she has become. So very happy for you, Kendra!
Posted by: Donna L. | September 13, 2013 at 03:17 PM
Thank you for linking to this story! It's inspiring to see Keely's accomplishments at school.
Congress, or their constituency perhaps, should be asking why the IACC doesn't consult with and further the work of groups like ARI.
Posted by: Jeannette Bishop | September 13, 2013 at 03:07 PM
At the next round of Congressional autism hearings in November, we have to have a panel of recovered kids.
Posted by: Jonathan Rose | September 13, 2013 at 08:20 AM