'Buddy Bench' Grants Father's Day Wish For Autistic Son

Carlsbad, CA — This Father's Day, a Carlsbad dad's wish was to share the story of his persistent, autistic son.

"This is a story of triumph, persistence, love and community involvement," said Cameron Truhn, a father of four who said his request when asked what he wants for Father's Day has always been to see his children "happy, have love in their hearts, be kind and respect others."

For his 11-year-old son, Austin, a graduating fifth-grader from Aviara Oaks Elementary in Carlsbad, being on the Autism spectrum has oftentimes led to "extreme highs and the lowest of lows," Truhn said. 

"He is now a high functioning Asperger’s kid, but it took nine years of painful and persistent therapy to get where he is today."

Truhn's Father's Day gift came a few days early this year when he witnessed Austin's perseverance pay off. As Austin moves on to middle school, a "Buddy Bench" will remain at Aviara Oaks Elementary in his honor. 

This is the story of how the Buddy Bench came to be, as told by his father:

"Two years ago, Austin was feeling alone and sad on the school playground. He needed a friend, but didn’t know how to engage the other kids. He thought if there was just a place to go or some way to let the other kids know he needed a friend, he would go there.

"Austin came home that night and said he had an idea. He wanted the school to designate a bench on the playground the 'friendship bench.' He said he decided to put the idea in the schools suggestion box. 

"Austin persistently followed up with the school principal, Mrs. Harding; she told him she liked the idea but did not know how the school would pay for it. Well that school year ended, the summer went by and another school year began. 

"Austin could not wait for the start of school because he wanted to check with Mrs. Harding on his idea. The first opportunity he got he asked about the status of the bench; again the response was 'nice idea but we can’t pay for it.' 

"Over the course of the school year, Austin remained persistent to the point of being a pest — he wasn’t giving up. At some point during the year, the school looked for outside donations to make Austin’s idea come to life, and they found a willing participant. The generous people at Lowe’s donated the funds for the bench and had it installed.

"I was notified by the school that they were having a dedication ceremony for the bench and Austin’s idea."

When the ceremony was held Tuesday, Austin sat front and center, holding a plaque that reads: "Donated at the request and effort of Austin Truhn."