something years with adults with intellectual disabilities. Over that time, the thing that I’ve found is that I’ve changed because they don’t have the ability to change. If I’m going to be in a relationship with them, then I need to change — and I do.” Not only is it important for neurotypicals to acknowledge the atypicals and adjust accordingly, but the Kissel family says they found a difference in Jeff Kissel Jr.’s life when he started to approach his diagnosis by willingly
understanding and compassionate, it resulted in more activists and an end to Jeff Kissel Jr.’s bullying issues in high school. After secretly attending football practices after his track practice would end, Jeff Kissel Jr. found himself on Colton High School’s football team, the Yellowjackets, playing defensive back. “Football was very big in my high school. It was just a big, huge thing, like ‘Friday Night Lights’ or ‘Remember the Titans.’ So that’s why
acknowledging himself as autistic. “We always told him not to be ashamed of it because he is very intelligent,” Jeff Kissel Sr. says. “I tell him, ‘Don’t be ashamed of it. Let people know because if they see your behavior, then what do you think they’re going to think? They’re going to think you’re weird, you’re strange or whatever word they want to use. They’re going to assume other things.’ I always told him, ‘Let people know that you’re autistic because then they actually know what’s going on and they don’t just assume — they know.’” Kathy Kissel says, “Knowledge is power. Once you know, then it makes you more sympathetic. If you don’t know a person, then you start looking at that person like he or she is a little different.”
Jeff Kissel Sr. adds, “They accepted it.
I wanted to join,” Jeff Kissel Jr. says. “That’s how I got to know the football players. My teammates were like my brothers. They looked out for me. They protected me because there’s that sense of camaraderie and brotherhood. That’s what basically got me through high school,” Jeff Kissel Jr. says. “They were activists, too, in saying, ‘This is my brother. This is my brother on the football team. This is the way he is and if you don’t like it, well, shame on you.’” Having friends, loved ones or mentors assist with social competence for those with ASD as well as approaching society to defend, help or teach them about those with ASD is a part of the plot of many media portrayals that accurately resemble reality. “A mentor is necessary for these students to succeed and the media is showing that a mentor is necessary for success,” says Dr. Jane McGuire, professor of education and PPS School Psychology Program Coordinator.
Teaching other people ways to react or how ( Jeff Kissel Jr.) is going to be acting around them made a big difference.” Not only did Jeff Kissel Jr.’s own acknowledgment about his autism help his teachers become open to accommodation or give others the opportunity to be
McGuire has worked with programs addressing autism and with children to adults with moderate to severe disabilities since 1996, when she served as a psychologist in the Moreno Valley unified school district where she was responsible for assessing its students. During her dissertation, McGuire focused
Bridging the gap
40 | Pursuit