We need a happy story about our disabled loved ones. So today I will share with you my son’s story. February 2nd was a big night in his life. One he will never forget. His story, dreams and goal was shared on Fox Sports after the Super Bowl. We are very proud of him.
My son is 20 and autistic. He is in a program for young adults with neurological disabilities. Part of this is Work Experience. The first year, he completed every job available so the many agencies got together to think outside the box. For the past two years, Wesley has been working as a volunteer with the Portland Winterhawks. This summer, the work experience portion was gutted.
Wesley is a bit of a “hockey savant”. He loves the game. He loves his class. So he decided to do something about it. He asked the Portland Winterhawks if they could do a benefit game for his class. They agreed.
$5 from every ticket sold via the special web link on the hockey site was given to Community Transition Program out of Beaverton, Oregon. He raised over $600.
I am unable to get the video to embed. I yield to the BooGods who can make it so.
http://www.kptv.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8320342
I was always questioned by the “experts”, “What are your dreams and goals for you son?” My answer was always that I wanted him to have the tools and skills to create and reach his own dreams and his own goals.
Thank you for taking the time to watch my son’s dream.
What are your child’s dreams and goals?
Sorry, can’t help you with the embed; tried but failed.
But what a wonderful video! Thoroughly enjoyed watching.
Good luck to Wesley, maybe he could be a side kick for a TV or radio hockey commentator. His encyclopedic knowledge of stats is incredible.
Thanks you!
Now I need to go to a damn meeting with Social Security (he finally got SSI after three year battle with them) possibly due to there being no “pay stubs” for Work Experience because due to the budget cuts, there are no more pay checks for the students who work. Now it’s just volunteering.
Luckily, the Winterhawks kept him on the staff this year. He is so hoping to be able to actually work with them once he graduates next year from CTP. He wants to work for them and go to community college for Sports Admin.
.
Truly an incredible story I learned of yesterday. A severely handicapped child did not communicate with the outside world until he was 18 years old. His truly loving parents self-educated their son as if he was able to learn and understand. It was our feeling, looking in his eyes, we always believed somehow we could reach him. Through an American technique he was able to use a special keyboard and his parents were dumbfounded their child dould read and communicate at adult level.
Unfortunately, Niek Zervaas also suffered epileptic seizures and received medication. The medicine impaired his mind and he preferred to go without medication and accept the risk. An accident lifted this very special person from his earthly life.
Wes didn’t speak till he was almost 8.
He could read long before that. We accidentally found out at four that he could read. It’s Hyperlexia.
I would sit in the room and read and read and read out loud to him. Most Dr. Seuss… alliteration seemed to be his thing… and mine 🙂 Doctors thought I was nuts reading for hours to him a day and then to him and his sister. Now both kids LOVE books. But I think it’s why he has some intonation in his voice.
I love him so much. I never gave up hope. Never will. 🙂
Wow, that’s pretty amazing what Wes has accomplished. I very much enjoyed the video. And it was great to see you both in real life after all these years gone by here on BT.
Best Wishes for the future to your family!
They shot me from the neck up.. UGH! Made me look like frog lady. LOL 🙂
We are so proud of Wesley and all his classmates – as well as the Winterhawks. A good, feel good story.
I thought you looked beautiful with your love for your son shining through on your face.
Hi Janet. That was a wonderful video, more in-depth than I thought it was going to be.
Thank you for putting up this diary…it made my day for weeks to come. love CI
Glad it made your daysssssssssssssss 🙂
Wes amazes me a lot of the time. Infuriates and frustrates me the other time.
That sums up the joy and heartbreak of any parent.
Absolutely the best vid I have seen in a while. Your son is clearly on heck of a guy! 🙂
He’s a good kid. He saw a need and found a solution. His class was gutted during the recent budget cuts and he found a way to make them some money.
His friends needed help. He sought out a solution.
The classmates all came to that game. They had a blast.