Tommy Accepted to Lincoln Memorial University!
At age 6, it was declared "Tommy will never read."
At age 10, doctors, friends, and family encouraged putting Tommy away in a home stating "you can’t save Tommy and the other children."
Tommy spent 2nd to 6th grade at KAEC with no textbooks and "learning behaviors."
In the 8th grade, the school system highly encouraged us to hold Tommy back a year for socialization and maturity (we refused).
In the 12th grade, Tommy takes the ACT and gets a 28. He was expected to take 6 years in high school to accept a special education degree. Instead he completes in 4 years and will walk the stage in May 2008 with a regular education high school diploma.
On April 12, 2008, Tommy received a letter of acceptance from Lincoln Memorial University!
Tommy is thrilled!
Tommy succeeds by his own efforts. He is also supported by a fantastic network of loving family, friends, teachers, doctors and professionals. Never give up; never surrender!
January 27th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I want to thank you for posting your encouraging information regarding your son. Our son is 14 and in the 8th grade. Middle school has been prett rough for him socially. My husband and I worry often about how he will do as he grows into adulthood. Our school system here does very well with him, but has much to learn about teaching children with Asperger’s. Your posts give me hope for his future. Thank you again.
January 29th, 2008 at 6:57 am
I think middle school is rough for children without special needs and his nightmarish for our Aspies. The prospect of college has my wife and I a nervous wreck. Will he get himself to class? Will he ask for help when he needs it? Will he actually study and do his work or spent days on end playing World of Warcraft?
The years of people telling us that our son needs to be locked away, that he’ll never function in society, had us prepared to do anything. We’ve explored having him in high school for 6 years and doing job training Sunshine Industries although we thought him more capable (he surprised everyone with his completion of high school in 4 years with a regular diploma — knock on wood this semester continues to go well!).
I have sat through a presentation by an adult with Asperger’s who has made a career out of taking about it. That was inspiring. I have met very functional adult Aspies would have come to our support group meeting. Some drove themselves while others use the bus or came with family. On the other side of the coin, I have met Aspies who have had trouble keeping jobs, or never left home relying on the support of their family. Everyone’s story is unique but I feel with a good support system of family, friends, educators, and professionals that each of our children can succeed!
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:46 pm
How inspiring! We’re looking at sending our son to junior hi next year with great trepidation. He’ll lose the support he’s had in elementary school, and his Aspie tendencies will likely drive his classmates mad. *sigh* But it’s nice to hear that there are happy endings!
February 6th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I am so excited for you and it is very encouraging to know! Thank you so much for sharing, I have been following along for at least three years and gives me great comfort to know that I am not alone and that there are better things ahead to keep fighting for.
February 10th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
This is wonderful! Our 17 year old son will graduate in June, but he (and we) have decided that he will stay at High School for another year. Outside of Asperger’s, he’s just too young to go off and live alone. He spent this last term in a co-op placement, and it was a wonderful experience for him - just a whole new world outside of family and friends.
Congratulations, Tommy! Best of luck!
March 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 am
Thank you SO much for sharing and being vulnerable about your son. CONGRATS TO TOMMY!! WHOO HOOO. It gives me HOPE for the future for my 14 yr old 8th grader!!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
I got to your new blog via searching for “Aspergers teenagers who smell”. This is great how far Tommy has come! How did it get to this level, after all of your posts about your frustration? I thought you were going to lose it back then. I am so happy for you, but I really need to know what happened. Because I am feeling like you were at the old blog.