Following 24 Hours Of Really Terrible News, Here's Something Good: Ellison High School Names 'Hard-Working, Outgoing' Autistic Student Homecoming King . . .

Both the students of EHS, and their new King, Jesse McKenzie, won that night . . . 

Killeen Daily Herald - Disabilities like autism can create a barrier from the world making it difficult to reach out and socialize with others.

In an inspiring embrace of acceptance on a mass scale, students at Ellison High School elected Jesse McKenzie their homecoming king, a young man with autism and an infectious outgoing attitude.

As Ellison's three candidates for homecoming king and queen walked to the middle of the football field at halftime of Friday's game, the packed student section chanted Jesse's name.

After the two runners-up were announced, Verna McKenzie embraced her son and friend Kyle Skinner clapped his hands in support.

McKenzie smiled widely as he bore the crown. The fans cheered their approval.

After standing for several photos on the sideline, Jesse indicated he was surprised and pleased and that he knew the sea of students cheering him on really cared about him.

momma

Comments

[Calypso Jones]

this is getting ridiculous. If kids can't play dodgeball or win baseball games because it's too competitive and everybody has to win..then what are these schools doing having hc king and queen?

[Jay]

I totally sympathize, autism is a horrile condition, it makes me happy to see this kid being accepted.

[ConcernedCanadian]

Calypso: Get over it. This is a feel good story that restores your sense of goodness in people. Let me enjoy it for a few minutes before I move on to the next Obomination story.

Thanks Momma!

[XenMan]

I needed this momma, thanks....

[Calypso Jones]

If this makes one's day then we are really in a fix. I'll just take the little gal shooting Hassan 4 times. I would prefer dead but she did her best. T

[momma]

CJ - What the hell does this story have to do with sports? King/Queen is a 'popular' vote.

[XenMan]

CJ

This isn't a "everyone finishes first" story.

It's a HS rallying around an autistic kid, I see nothing but joy in that.

[Calypso Jones]

it's competition babe. There's a loser, there's a winner. that's not pc. and what is up with you? If you love the story, enjoy. I made a comment. If you don't want that then close the comments.

[cakes]

I think what Calypso won't say bluntly is that an autistic kid couldn't really be popular... that would only make sense to someone who either is elitist- or knows nothing about autism today.

It's great- good for ALL those kids who got to know a 'different' kid. As we see, being nice and open to kids with problems can be totally enriching.

[Comrade Terry]

There' hope for us yet. We seem to be human after all.

[Calypso Jones]

No. Calypso isn't saying that at all. One autistic kid gets HC king and you think all is good and sweet with the world? Well there are a lot of autistic kids out there who get nothing in the way of support or acknowledgement from folk such as you. Tell me. WHAT have you done lately for an autistic kid? i thought so.

I'm am just plain Home coming-ed out. There are transgendered king/queens and gay king/queens and black or white king/queens for white/black schools.

So. VERY SWEET story. happy now? What happens tomorrow?

[CharginMyToxicLazerz]

this is great oh btw Calypso jones stop before you say something you'll regret your a cool guy but come on

[momma]

CJ-

One of my siblings was written off by doctors as 'disabled'. We worked with him night and day. If you met him today, you'd never think of him as 'challenged'. So please be careful what you accuse others of doing, or not doing.

[cakes]

"Tell me. WHAT have you done lately for an autistic kid? i thought so.
Posted by: Calypso Jones | November 06, 2009 at 05:32 PM"

Since you asked, I HAVE a child with learning difficulties. He attends an after school program (at a separate location) that includes autistic children. They have a summer camp. For the last two years, I have had them all to my house for stay-overs, including games, meals and career demonstrations. I have helped teach them about money making in the money making program...shall I go on? Now, it's your turn.

Momma, when Mancakes was in kindergarten, the school told his mom to put him in an institution because he would NEVER function in life. She said a big FU and found a teacher that would help him. Now he is a very successful artist, a wonderful husband and father and one of the smartest people I know.

Her's what happens next CJ: the people around him treat him like a human being. His confidence in his ability to communicate is strengthened and he could very well improve just from that. EVERYONE has issues with other people, including those with incredibly high IQ's. As long as this kid has a support system- the bigger the better- he'll be fine.

[CharginMyToxicLazerz]

momma i don't know what got into him

[momma]

Cakes - Growing up I was always amazed that doctors, time after time, told my family that my sibling wasn't worth the time. I remember when my mom came home from the doc. after being told her OBGYN refused to continue her care because she was carrying an 'unknown' or fetus that had mental/disabilities but the extent was unknown. My mom spent three days finding a new doc.

I never saw more personal courage then I saw in my sibling. No matter how mean people were, no matter how hard he had to work, no matter the things docs told him he couldn't do.

Your husband's story is awesome cakes! So is your son's. I bet he has more friends then I do :)

Thank you for sharing your family's story. It is a great one.

[cakes]

Momma, your story is one of courage and persistence- one I hear all too often.
Many of these people are so discouraged by the cruel things people say. Mancakes got "retard" (he is not) and "special Ed!" and he is/was a VERY handsome, 'normal' looking guy. But those names still stay with him today. He excelled in the one thing he actually got compliments on- his art. If those assholes in his school had behaved as the ones in this story, well, who knows?
It is natural for kids to avoid things and people who are not 'normal', but if parents teach their kids that ALL people have faults AND talents, and let their kids know that even Einstein was dyslexic and socially retarded, these kids will be more like 'normal' and achieve more than ever.
My mother, who has MS and counsels those who are newly diagnosed, wrote a book about the power of attitude and confidence in one's self on those who are disabled. She is sooooo right.

BTW, my son definitely has more friends than I (-;