page 4
Issue 5
lifestyles
PALS club offers helping hand to autistic Sabrina Chehab
P
co-lifestyles editor
apers shuffle and officers discuss future events. Club members listen attentively and offer occasional suggestions. Meetings may seem boring, but when they bowl, eat lunch and play games with autistic students, this group makes a difference. Interaction is one of the most important aspects of this group in addition to compassion, dedication and patience. These qualities personify members of Providing Autism Links and Supports (PALS) group, a collection of students who put effort toward autism awareness. The PALS group meets every other Friday in sponsor Brit Taylor’s room. Composed of approximately 30 members, the group interacts and spends time with autistic students as well as autistic students from Carillon Elementary. “We play games with [the autistic students] and we spend time with them,” sophomore Rebecca Kennedy said. “Every so often, we’ll take a lunch to eat with them and just talk to them.” It may not seem like much, but according to Kennedy, this interaction makes autistic students feel acknowledged. In addition to playing games, the group also bowls with the autistic students. Communication can be difficult due to the repetitive behavior and lack of effective emotional conveyance on the autistic student’s part. Autistic students can be stubborn, and some members occasionally suffer from frustration. “[The most challenging part of helping autistic students] is probably just
trying to get them to listen and talk to you,” sophomore Jessica Richmond said. “They’ve taught me a lot of patience.” Due to their communication problems, students outside PALS club are less sympathetic when it comes to dealing with those who have autism. “I’ve seen kids around school that tend to make fun of autistic kids, and it’s really harsh because it’s not like they can help it,” Rebecca Kennedy said. “In the club, we make it aware that it shouldn’t happen.” For some, the motivation to join PALS came from home. Sophomores Rebecca and Abigail Kennedy have an older sister with cerebral palsy. Freshman Michelle Laborde, creator of PALS, has a brother, Genio, who is autistic. “You learn a lot from [the autistic students]; that it’s okay to be different,” Laborde said. “You learn how to interact with them and you learn that it’s better to give than to get.” The group’s activities reflect this statement. Fundraiser booths are set up in front of stores such as Publix to collect donations and help spread autism awareness throughout the community. Group members also started to sell buttons that display the message, “okay is different.” These activities require a sense of commitment from members. “You have to be patient and kind, and also make sure that you always put your best foot forward,” sophomore Abigail Kennedy said. Even though diligence and consideration may already exist in members, some believe that an association with this group has taught
photo by simone bodecker
Freshman Michelle Laborde, president and founder of PALS club, helps an autistic member of society, Aian Alvarado, pick out a bowling ball. them new skills and changed them for the better. There are some members who believe that they have learned from the autistic students. “[Autistic students] have taught me
how important some causes are, and how important it is to take some time out of your day to just spend time with someone else because it really makes their day,” Rebecca Kennedy said.