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Chase Wickert
Chase Wickert, a happy, adorable 9 year old boy from the south side of Chicago, was recently chosen as the 2007-2008 Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago Ambassador.
Born on July 1, 1999, Chase was like any developing child, active and playful. It wasn't until Chase reached 16-20 months that his mother Shari began to notice a change. Suddenly he was no longer playing, his eye contact decreased and he stopped talking; he seemed "lost."
Shari began to seek intensive testing for Chase, which resulted in the diagnosis of autism at the age of 2 years old. At the time, Chase was enrolled in a public school but wasn't getting the treatment he needed. Shari, being an advocate for her son, fought to get private placement, and eventually won due process. She was then referred to the Easter Seals Therapeutic School in Tinley Park, where Chase began in the fall of 2006 and currently attends.
"Easter Seals has been great for Chase," his mother Shari says, "it has given Chase the feeling of a typical classroom so he gets introduced to various subjects that he didn't have before. When it's time for school, Chase grabs his backpack and runs out to the bus with a smile on his face."
This more traditional school setting at Easter Seals has caught Chase's interest in subjects he never knew about before. He enjoys anything related to the solar system, animals, maps, states, and the alphabet. Chase is also extremely smart. He taught himself to read, and is a self-taught computer whiz! Chase will turn the computer on, access the internet, search for an animal he is looking for, browse through the search results, and memorize all the facts. He has also learned how to search YouTube to find his favorite Disney movie scenes to watch online.
Children with autism typically do not like being touched or hugged, but Chase will often seek it. Chase will walk up and say "tickle, tickle" or climb up in his family members' laps to be cuddled when he is seeking attention.
Shari is right to have such high hopes for her son's future. As quite an extraordinary boy, she hopes Chase will become involved in some sort of profession that utilizes his computer skills or his fascination and love for animals.
"Easter Seals gives me a peace of mind that I didn't have before, knowing it's a long term placement for Chase and the staff there is so caring and loving," Shari expressed.
Born on July 1, 1999, Chase was like any developing child, active and playful. It wasn't until Chase reached 16-20 months that his mother Shari began to notice a change. Suddenly he was no longer playing, his eye contact decreased and he stopped talking; he seemed "lost."
Shari began to seek intensive testing for Chase, which resulted in the diagnosis of autism at the age of 2 years old. At the time, Chase was enrolled in a public school but wasn't getting the treatment he needed. Shari, being an advocate for her son, fought to get private placement, and eventually won due process. She was then referred to the Easter Seals Therapeutic School in Tinley Park, where Chase began in the fall of 2006 and currently attends.
"Easter Seals has been great for Chase," his mother Shari says, "it has given Chase the feeling of a typical classroom so he gets introduced to various subjects that he didn't have before. When it's time for school, Chase grabs his backpack and runs out to the bus with a smile on his face."
This more traditional school setting at Easter Seals has caught Chase's interest in subjects he never knew about before. He enjoys anything related to the solar system, animals, maps, states, and the alphabet. Chase is also extremely smart. He taught himself to read, and is a self-taught computer whiz! Chase will turn the computer on, access the internet, search for an animal he is looking for, browse through the search results, and memorize all the facts. He has also learned how to search YouTube to find his favorite Disney movie scenes to watch online.
Children with autism typically do not like being touched or hugged, but Chase will often seek it. Chase will walk up and say "tickle, tickle" or climb up in his family members' laps to be cuddled when he is seeking attention.
Shari is right to have such high hopes for her son's future. As quite an extraordinary boy, she hopes Chase will become involved in some sort of profession that utilizes his computer skills or his fascination and love for animals.
"Easter Seals gives me a peace of mind that I didn't have before, knowing it's a long term placement for Chase and the staff there is so caring and loving," Shari expressed.
Meet the Naturals
Sunday, June 29, 2008
By Karen Meyer, ABC 7 Chicago
Music is a meaningful way for people with cognitive disabilities to showcase their talent.
A Chicago area band was created to promote the musical abilities of two young men with autism. Meet the Naturals: Maurice Snell, Terry Bracey, Dan Massey and Craig Christiansen. Both Maurice and Terry are autistic, and Dan and Craig teach music. Craig is co-founder of Creative Exchange Music Therapy program that teaches music to children with different abilities.
"We've been coming to Easter Seals doing music therapy for about 10 years, and way back then we noticed that Terry and Maurice had just a natural ability for music," said Craig. "So as the years passed we thought that we should make a band with the guys now that they're adults."
They have been performing for almost two years. What amazing about Maurice and Terry is they are able to learn everything by ear. "I remembered Terry just picked up... the guitar, and he played 'Do de do do do,' and he said he'd never played a guitar before, and he played a little blues thing just like that," said Craig. "So (it just) jumped right out at us that they have a musical ability."
"They say that less than one percent of all people have perfect pitch, but I've found (that with) people with autism it's more like 10-15 percent of the people... have perfect pitch," said Craig. Maurice graduated from St. Xavier University with high honors, and he loves music and being in the band.
"At first I took piano lessons at a young age, then, I went on to percussion," said Maurice. "I participated in marching bands (in) high school and college, and then I suddenly (had) an itch of doing performance like melodic type of instruments."
Maurice's parents are extremely proud of their son's success. "To see him perform, when at a very early age we would never even imagine that would happen& is always amazing and makes me feel very emotional," said Maurice's mom.
At times there are some challenges performing with band members who are autistic. "We have to make sure we're really well organized (and) that everybody understands when the shows are," said Craig.
"There's challenges in communicating when we rehearse -- ... some musical things and how we're gonna set up, what things are gonna be like," said Craig. "Sometimes with shows that we do, we try to give them an idea of what the place might look like."
The Naturals are performing at several events. They are working on a CD that they hope to have available in the near future. "Oh yea, I love it because we're the Naturals, you know," said Terry.
By Karen Meyer, ABC 7 Chicago
Music is a meaningful way for people with cognitive disabilities to showcase their talent.
A Chicago area band was created to promote the musical abilities of two young men with autism. Meet the Naturals: Maurice Snell, Terry Bracey, Dan Massey and Craig Christiansen. Both Maurice and Terry are autistic, and Dan and Craig teach music. Craig is co-founder of Creative Exchange Music Therapy program that teaches music to children with different abilities.
"We've been coming to Easter Seals doing music therapy for about 10 years, and way back then we noticed that Terry and Maurice had just a natural ability for music," said Craig. "So as the years passed we thought that we should make a band with the guys now that they're adults."
They have been performing for almost two years. What amazing about Maurice and Terry is they are able to learn everything by ear. "I remembered Terry just picked up... the guitar, and he played 'Do de do do do,' and he said he'd never played a guitar before, and he played a little blues thing just like that," said Craig. "So (it just) jumped right out at us that they have a musical ability."
"They say that less than one percent of all people have perfect pitch, but I've found (that with) people with autism it's more like 10-15 percent of the people... have perfect pitch," said Craig. Maurice graduated from St. Xavier University with high honors, and he loves music and being in the band.
"At first I took piano lessons at a young age, then, I went on to percussion," said Maurice. "I participated in marching bands (in) high school and college, and then I suddenly (had) an itch of doing performance like melodic type of instruments."
Maurice's parents are extremely proud of their son's success. "To see him perform, when at a very early age we would never even imagine that would happen& is always amazing and makes me feel very emotional," said Maurice's mom.
At times there are some challenges performing with band members who are autistic. "We have to make sure we're really well organized (and) that everybody understands when the shows are," said Craig.
"There's challenges in communicating when we rehearse -- ... some musical things and how we're gonna set up, what things are gonna be like," said Craig. "Sometimes with shows that we do, we try to give them an idea of what the place might look like."
The Naturals are performing at several events. They are working on a CD that they hope to have available in the near future. "Oh yea, I love it because we're the Naturals, you know," said Terry.
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