Abby Reinke Students Embrace Autism

American schools teach a variety of academic subjects while hosting a wide array of extracurricular activities. Unfortunately for some students, the education of fundamentally communicative intangibles like social cues and non-verbal body language is virtually never part of their curriculum.

Children who grow up with disorders on the autism spectrum, or identified with what some contemporary activists call "neurodiversity", face an uphill battle towards social and societal acceptance.

Though many 'auties' or 'aspies' are commonly mistaken for children with learning disabilities or behavioral disorders, a large percentage of them have high IQs and are capable of achieving extraordinary things. However, since their natural communicative deficiencies revolve around social skills that most children and parents take for granted in "neurotypical" cognitive development, social progress for these children remains generally slow and frustrating.

Things are different at Temecula's Abby Reinke Elementary School. There, first-graders have already set a notable benchmark for inclusiveness and encouragement.

Larissa Dillon, Emma Serge and Rylie Reale have each taken fellow six-year-old Chase Holton, who has autism, into their hearts. They even argue over who gets to sit with her at lunch.

“They are helping her with her social skills, appropriate behaviors, taking turns,” says Courtney Holton, Chase’s mom. “This is something they volunteered to do to help my sweet Chase.”

While Holton spends most of the day in Ms. Miller’s special-needs class, she goes with an aide to Ms. Hermanson’s regular class to integrate for up to two hours a day.

While Courtney fears that Chase might normally be left to play alone in her own world, Mom instead receives daily notes commenting on how well Chase co-mingles in the new quartet of friends.

“Due to the care and awareness of these young ladies, Chase learns and learns fast,” Mrs. Holton said. “Chase follows these rules and is understanding non-verbal communication and social cues because these kids take the time to play with her.”

Because of the compassionate contributions of Abby Reinke’s community of young students, teachers, aides and administrators, Courtney feels her daughter’s odds of positively impacting and connecting to her peers are better as she grows older.

“Principal Christine Boyd should be commended for doing so much for our daughter. Her chance of becoming a functional member of society has increased because of this school, principal, teachers and these sweet children that take the time to teach my girl with kindness and understanding.

“Chase will succeed and these children are awesome because they are helping her.”