Support from school and community offer boy a bright, promising future

Published 9:00 pm Friday, December 26, 2003

On Dec. 18, we were the older parents of a kindergartener performing for his first time in a holiday program. I was the gray haired, bearded bulk of a guy with tears in his eyes and my wife was the petite, grandmotherly brunette clinging to me. Our son was the little guy with the big red hat, who was rigid, out of sync with the group as they swayed, waved and gestured to the music and singing as loud as he could.

Our little boy began to talk and develop like every little healthy child. We began to notice he had an exceptional skill in remembering events and identifying every style and model of vehicle on the road as soon as he began to speak. He began preschool and did well, though he was confused in his interactions with other children. Eventually his confusion and challenges of interaction with other children led to frustration and minor behavioral problems. Slowly his speech and interactions turned inward as he began to shut down the outside world.

In September, Nicolas began the all-day, everyday kindergarten program at Twin City Elementary School in the Stanwood School District. Almost immediately, his behavior became increasingly withdrawn, very anxious and inappropriate towards other children. We were fearful and concerned, yet the team at TCE met with us, involved our wonderful pediatrician Gabe Barrio and included us on a team of professionals to figure out a plan to help our son. This was early October and the next months brought a battery of tests, physical exams and team meetings.

Watching the holiday program was one of the most joyful moments of our lives. Our little son has a preliminary diagnosis of a form of autism, known as Asperger’s Syndrome, and is scheduled for visits to Children’s Hospital this spring for more detailed testing. Without the wonderful help, support and expertise of Principal Pam Getz, special education teacher Lisa Parvey, kindergarten teacher Debbie Martin and school psychologist Angelina Boyer and her wonderful team, Nic would not have stood in front of hundreds of parents with three classes of kindergarteners to perform his debut concert.

Nic has a long road ahead of him, yet his future is bright and promising because of the quick recognition, efforts and tremendous patience provided by his educators, the Stanwood School District, his classmates, and their parents. Our Camano-Stanwood community provides the financial and moral support for these programs that allow Nicolas and so many other children with special needs to be professionally addressed in this district. This community support and patience helps all of our children and their families to grow, experience and develop the tools of success so necessary in life.

The turmoil of life today in America with war, economic challenges, service cutbacks and loss of jobs can overshadow the positive successes we achieve as a community. Often, these accomplishments are not as exciting as court trials, corporations deciding to stay or leave a community, or the flashy, outrageous events that grab headlines. After all, an autistic child being able to perform his first concert with his classmates doesn’t sell papers or radio advertising, but it is as real a victory as any capture of a dictator or winning a manufacturer’s decision to stay in Everett. It is the journey behind the accomplishment of Nicolas and other such children that is the forgotten story. The improvement and solid development provided by our educators, volunteers, families, mental health and medical professionals affects our future as a community and culture through the successful accomplishment of each of these future citizens and contributors to our society.

I wish to thank everyone for the gift afforded to Nicolas, my wife and me on Dec. 18, and wish to thank a special person in Nic’s life: Suzy, an aide who works patiently with Nic every school day. Aides and volunteers, who provide the needed support for our professional educators, play key roles in the everyday lives of all students, fulfilling the complex structure so necessary today for developing and educating our citizens of tomorrow.

Melvin Dahl Coplin and his wife Terry, are residents of Camano Island