Born with cerebral palsy, but determined to triumph

For Jesse Martinez— a 19-year-old with cerebral palsy— his struggles are more than meets the eye. And his latest accomplishment means more than anyone could fathom.
On June 15, Martinez graduated with high ranks from South San Antonio High School and stunned the crowd when he walked to accept his diploma.
“When I crossed I felt as if I died and went to heaven because it felt amazing,” Martinez said. “I’ve always told myself one day, the world is going to know who I am and for me, this was the perfect way to put myself out there.”

Graduation, One of Many Milestones for Mark

Mark Jameson will be graduating
on May 30.

CHAPIN, S.C. -- When Mark Jameson walks across the stage May 30 to receive his diploma from Chapin High School, it will be the grand finale of an educational journey that took him from a near-silent toddler and frustrated first grader to a loquacious and personable young man.
The milestone will be cheered by his family, parents Donnie and Theresa Jameson, and brothers, Matthew and Michael, and the dozens of teenage friends Mark has come to know as he learned to master a “regular” school and take control of his autism.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/05/21/2284071/a-milestone-for-mark-after-a-diagnosis.html#storylink=cpy

Graduation Day for Autistic Students

Check out the link for a video of the ceremony--congrats to all of the graduates!

NEW YORK -- Zachary is getting his cap and gown. He and 20 other students are graduating from preschool today. All of the children are all battling autism, and each and every one of them is going to main-stream school this fall.


They have all been students here at the Association for Metro Area Autistic Children in Manhattan.

AMAC, as they call it, is a year-round school for children age two and a half to 21-years-old, but when high functioning kids like these are ready, they leave.

'Just Treat Me Like Anybody Else'

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Scott Wood is many things: valedictorian of the Class of 2011 at the Media Arts and Communications Academy, where he also was elected prom king; a budding scholar who is leaning toward studying either accounting or astrophysics when he starts college on a scholarship this fall; a young entrepreneur who spends Saturdays running a booth at the McMinnville Public Market.

He also is autistic. He's willing to talk about the neurodevelopmental disorder that makes communication and interpersonal interaction challenging. In fact, he started his market booth so he could educate people about autism.

However, he doesn't let autism define him, and he doesn't want to be dealt with differently because of it.

"Just treat me like anybody else," he said.

"Don't try to treat me as someone who needs help, or who's different," he said. "Just treat me like anybody else."

'She's a People-Pleaser Big Time'

WARSAW, Ohio -- It wasn't the sash, crown or being the center of attention that made being the River View prom queen special to senior Cortney Wright. It was the fact her classmates, her friends, thought enough of her to bestow the honor.
Cortney is developmentally disabled and attended special needs classes at River View. Today, she will replace her crown with a cap as she walks across the stage and accepts her diploma along with her classmates.