Updated 6/23/10 – Graduation video! Grab some tissues and prepare to be inspired. Thanks to the proud mom for posting it! Congrats Jeremy!
Alternate link to YouTube video
Many of you have probably read one or more of Chantal Sicile-Kira’s books on autism, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide. Through her books and interviews she’s done, you get glimpses into the life of her son Jeremy, who is now 21, and the many challenges they’ve faced and overcome together. If there were ever an example that being autistic and unable to verbally communicate doesn’t mean you can’t do incredibly awesome things, Jeremy is it.
On June 18, Jeremy will deliver a commencement speech at his high school graduation using his assistive communication device. He graduates with a 3.70 GPA and will attend college this fall. His seven years at Torrey Pines High School striving to achieve this inspiring goal is a testament to perseverance and determination. He dreamed a great dream and together with the support of family, school, and many others, he made it happen.
Of course the first thing that came to mind was the dream I had some time ago about the J-Man. Not surprisingly, reading about Jeremy’s achievement made me burst into tears and smile all over at the same time.
So thanks for being awesome, Jeremy Sicile-Kira. You inspire us and make us believe.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks, Tim! I’m going to show this to Jeremy: he will be really thrilled!
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Nice website
Thanks for all you do,
Chantal
Thanks for stopping by Chantal! We’re honored!
Saw your Spectrum Magazine article about Jeremy today. What a brilliant piece! Everyone, go read it!
Tell Jeremy we wish him well on the speech and that a whole lot of people he doesn’t know are very proud of him (and you too!).
Thanks Tim, I love your blog and sens of humor!
Best,
Chantal
Hi – This is Jeremy’s mom – I’m so glad you posted the video of Jeremy to inspire others.
I wanted to comment on the ‘Welcome to Holland” and “Welcome to Beirut” ?:
With all due respect, dealing with autism is definitely about “Welcome to Beirut”. And I’ve lived in Europe and traveled to the Middle East during periods of unrest, so I don’t say that lightly. Nobody gets it if you have an older kid like mine. I’m still training all the high school, all the adult services (don’t get me started on community college and dept of rehab even with our so-called “rights”). I feel like an illegal immigrant every time I start a new process or service. It doesn’t matter that I wrote books or am respected in the community – and it shouldn’t.
The fight’s not over till it’s over, and it never is.
Just my two cents!!!!
Chantal
Chantal – I thought I expressed my appreciation for the Beirut poem somewhere, but I’ve been known to change my mind as the seasons of life go around and around so who knows.
I tend to reread things every now and then to see whether my perspective has changed. I’m still not much on the Holland one though.
Shannon at Squidalicious wrote a great one called “Welcome to Yellowknife!” that I highly recommend. I think as people write more and more of these “Welcome to…” posts there’s a lot of refining going on in articulating perspectives about autism and parenting.
I’m not much on war imagery in general, but that’s just a personal thing. I totally agree that much of life is one battle after another against The System. ‘Battle’ is such a multidimensional (physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, bodily, etc.) thing. When I think about the more rockets-red-glare imagery, it feels violent and angry to me. I know it doesn’t for everyone, but I’m trying to avoid anything that adds to my anger bucket right now.
You’ve been at this way longer than I have, and while the rest of the non-autism planet may not think much on your accomplishments, we do. If they ever hand out oak leaves or stars and medals for parenting uniforms, you’ve earned some for sure.
Maybe we should all write a “Welcome to…” of our own at some point in our lives, like a thesis we submit to get a degree. I keep trying to but can’t seem to yet. Just not ready, I suppose.
Jeremy says everything so well in the video that anyone looking to know more would be well served to start there.
You’re worth a lot more than two cents. At least I hope you made more than that off the two books of yours I have on my shelf.