Autism Speaks 400 has Special Meaning for One Family
A parent tells how NASCAR inspires her autistic child
By Mimi Harris
Editor's note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the author exclusively.
A parent tells how NASCAR inspires her autistic child
By Mimi Harris
Editor's note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the author exclusively.
I cannot think of a better named race than the Autism Speaks 400.
My son Richard is 9 years old; he is autistic and obsessed with NASCAR. The first joy or passion we ever saw him show in his life was towards NASCAR. His first love was Jeff Gordon and as he became more familiar with the sport, he was willing to embrace and like other drivers. Until Richard liked NASCAR, the rest of the family had never seen a race; we can't really figure out how he came to even know about it.
When he was 5 he barely spoke and really lived completely in his own world. But he would tell me he wanted to go to Lowe's or Home Depot because Jimmy Johnson drove the Lowe's car and Tony Stewart drove the Home Depot Car. We would walk around those stores for hours, not buying anything - just being a part of Jimmy Johnson or Tony Stewart in his mind.
He recognized his first word on a street sign near the beach, Dupont Highway, because Jeff Gordon drives the Dupont car.
We could never get Richard to do work with numbers or math. One day we were boarding a plane and as he walked down the aisle, he told us which driver drove the car with the number aisle we were passing on it. Our joy at his recognition of numbers was unimaginable!
He has all his race cars lined up in his room and plays with them daily. He keeps a list of the cars he still needs to complete his collection.
Two summers ago, everyone else in our house went to sleep and Richard stayed up to watch the Pepsi 400 that was still on due to all the cautions that day. Whenever I go to his room he is watching the Speed Channel.
Our family was so excited when we heard that the race in Dover would be named the Autism Speaks 400, smiling knowingly at how perfect it seemed.
My son Richard is 9 years old; he is autistic and obsessed with NASCAR. The first joy or passion we ever saw him show in his life was towards NASCAR. His first love was Jeff Gordon and as he became more familiar with the sport, he was willing to embrace and like other drivers. Until Richard liked NASCAR, the rest of the family had never seen a race; we can't really figure out how he came to even know about it.
When he was 5 he barely spoke and really lived completely in his own world. But he would tell me he wanted to go to Lowe's or Home Depot because Jimmy Johnson drove the Lowe's car and Tony Stewart drove the Home Depot Car. We would walk around those stores for hours, not buying anything - just being a part of Jimmy Johnson or Tony Stewart in his mind.
He recognized his first word on a street sign near the beach, Dupont Highway, because Jeff Gordon drives the Dupont car.
We could never get Richard to do work with numbers or math. One day we were boarding a plane and as he walked down the aisle, he told us which driver drove the car with the number aisle we were passing on it. Our joy at his recognition of numbers was unimaginable!
He has all his race cars lined up in his room and plays with them daily. He keeps a list of the cars he still needs to complete his collection.
Two summers ago, everyone else in our house went to sleep and Richard stayed up to watch the Pepsi 400 that was still on due to all the cautions that day. Whenever I go to his room he is watching the Speed Channel.
Our family was so excited when we heard that the race in Dover would be named the Autism Speaks 400, smiling knowingly at how perfect it seemed.
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