A feel-good story about an autistic kid and the community that has grown with him - pics

Last edited Sat Oct 6, 2012, 12:51 AM - Edit history (1)

I posted this story because it made ME feel good!

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Linden High Homecoming King breaks through autism's barriers with help from his friends
5:43 PM, October 5, 2012
By Patricia Montemurri
Free Press Staff writer


Danny Leideker, an 18-year-old Linden High School senior who has Asperger's Syndrome, is the 2012 Linden High Homecoming King. He awaits the start of Friday's parade with classmate Gabby Tomaszewski. / Photo courtesy of Wayne Leideker
When he was younger, Danny Leideker’s parents wondered if their only child would ever have any friends.

Danny has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism, which affects his ability to interact with others, to look them in the eye, to pick up on when it’s appropriate to be loud or quiet.

It was very appropriate Friday for Danny to be loud, as he rode in a convertible with a crown atop his head and paraded through Linden’s downtown as the Linden High School 2012 Homecoming King.

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When he was in 8th grade, Danny worked with a counselor on the goal of making friends. At recess one day, hanging out near the basketball hoop, Danny said hello to Eddie Walterhouse, a good student and strong athlete.

“He asked would you guys like to sit with me at lunch,” Eddie recalled.

Eddie and his basketball buddies sat with Danny the next day, and many lunch days since.

“Finally,” said Wayne Leideker, “in the 8th grade, my son had some friends.”

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http://www.freep.com/article/20121005/NEWS06/121005077/Linden-High-Homecoming-King-breaks-through-autism-s-barriers-help-from-his-friends?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE