Courtney and Mikey
Different places, different people, different things to do. The first time at camp can be a little scary for a child with Autism.
The Family Autism Weekend offered a perfect opportunity for parents and children to experience Camp ASCCA for the first time, together. Along with these families, staff members from the Autism Society of Alabama and other proffesionals gave their time to help the weekend run smoothly. One of these helpers was Courtney King, from Birmingham.
Courtney is self-employed and works with behavioral consulting and therapy needs, mainly focusing on Autism. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama and then continued her education by receiving her master’s degree from Jacksonville State University.
Courtney’s story involves a young camper with Autism named Mikey. Mikey wanted a chance to ride the zipline but his mother was apprehensive about his participation. Not unlike most children with Autism, Mikey is very excitable and his mother’s concern centered on how he would react to the height of the platform. Courtney volunteered to climb the zipline and help Mikey feel more comfortable while he was elevated off the ground.
Afterwards, Mikey and his mom were nothing but smiles. Courtney’s familiar presence on top of the platform allowed Mikey to fully enjoy his experience on the zipline and provided some needed comfort to his mom. Without Courtney’s help, the adventure staff would have struggled to calm Mikey down enough to allow him to safely participate.
Below is an interview with Courtney as she tells her story and talks about the benefits of the camp experience. The video is 3:33 in length and is a 5.7 mb download.
