Under the Radar

Allison Stevenson, Parent Mentor, Fayette County

On the evening of April 21, 2011, our family was impacted by the power of an art teacher who opened his heart and mind to include a student with a disability in an event traditionally meant for students in "regular" education.

While sifting through the bills and junk mail one ordinary Friday night, I found a postcard from my son Seth’s high school.  I nearly overlooked it as yet another thing that did not pertain to my almost 16-year-old who is on the autism spectrum.  Many times correspondence from his school has nothing to do with a child who is in an Adapted Curriculum, Self-Contained, CBVI classroom.  But this time, much to both my surprise and my dismay, it was an invitation to the Underclassman Honors Night at Whitewater High School.

I was in unfamiliar territory, so I asked a mom of a "regular" education Whitewater student what this invitation meant.  This fellow soccer mom told me that Seth could be receiving an award for attendance (the implication of which made me laugh and dismiss quickly!), or grades (yet another unlikely possibility due to his “access” courses), or perhaps because a teacher nominated him for an achievement award. 

She went on to inform me that the school staff would not tell me what the award was ahead of time - but I just had to know! 

After all, as any "good mom" of a child with autism, I needed to prepare him rigorously and daily so that he would act appropriately during the ceremony.

Undaunted, I emailed his classroom teacher to ask if he knew why Seth had received the invitation to Honors Night.  Unsure himself, Coach Collins referred me to Whitewater's guidance department, as they were in charge of the ceremony.  He did, however, take a guess, stating that perhaps it could actually be for Seth's grades because of the new state rule on giving numerical grades in access courses instead of pass/fail grades. 

I was thrilled with this information and thought what a great benefit this could be for something that some teachers and parents thought was a waste of time.  Just think:  students on GAA (the GA Alternate Assessment) included in the school’s honor roll!
           
Taking Coach Collins' advice, I contacted Seth’s guidance counselor, Mrs. Glore.  As suspected, she was unable to tell me the award that Seth would receive.  Instead, she advised me that he should wear "church clothes" and that he would have to walk halfway across the stage, take the award, shake the hand of the presenter, and then complete his trek across the remainder of the stage.  I thanked her for the information and told her how thrilled his family was for him to be included in this event.

Still feeling nervous and anxious for him, I asked Coach Collins to take him to the auditorium and walk him through the procedure.  Seth is a good-looking guy, and as always, I wanted him to look and act like his peers.  On another night that week, I arrived home with a new shirt for Seth to wear to the ceremony.  Even with the knowledge of all this preparation, it was then that my husband, Rob, expressed that he was worried that Seth would be made fun of at the event.  I reassured him that the students at Whitewater High School were not like that with Seth or his fellow classmates.

Honors Night came, and Seth and I went into the auditorium together, as Rob and our two younger sons were to join us after their soccer practice.  Seth clapped at the appropriate times and when he got carried away, I simply held his hand and he stopped.  Sweaty and tired, Dad and the brothers (Sean and Zach) arrived just in time for the Fine Arts Department Awards.  We were relieved that Seth's name had not yet been called before they could join us.

After the usual Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture awards were given, the head of the Fine Arts department, Mrs. Esterlilne, announced the presentation of a special award.  She began to read a letter from Coach Cloud, "The Art Teacher" (as Seth usually calls him).  Seth smirked, Rob smiled, and I began to cry. 

His words were sweet, thoughtful, and wonderful to hear: "This award goes to a student who walks our halls daily, under the radar.  Seth Stevenson is one of those students.  Seth has had art for two years and has developed a great interest.  He loves shapes and so do I.  Sometimes, he will fill an entire page with nothing but shapes.  The same can be said about Seth’s love for color another interest we share.  Not only in creating art does Seth remind me of myself, but in the simple fact that Seth loves people.  He always asks about my well-being in the halls, before, between and after class.  He always has a hand extended to shake or a sneaky tickle for the back of my head.  It is with pleasure that I give the 'Resilient Artist Award' to Seth Stevenson."

Seth stood up and walked down the aisle to the stairs leading to the stage just like every other student did - except that he was looking back to see if I was following him. 

Actually, I did follow for a few steps, listening to the sincere congratulations of his "typical" peers. 

But then, from the bottom of the steps, I watched my 5-foot-11-inch, good- looking man-child with shaggy hair and autism walk across the stage and receive his award to the beautiful sound of applause from his fellow underclassmen of Whitewater High School.

It is with a thankful heart that I express my appreciation to all those at Whitewater High School:  the students, the Guidance office, Mrs. Glore, the Fine Arts Department, and, especially, Coach Cloud for the inclusion of Seth in this event.  Coach Cloud, you recognized the talents and worth of a child that many may overlook.  I hope you will inspire other “regular ed” teachers to look for students with disabilities down here under the radar.