Autistic student takes challenges head-on

Most eighth graders do not volunteer to stand before a classroom filled with their peers to talk about life's difficulties. Yet that is exactly what Craig Wessel did last week. But then again, Craig is not your typical eighth grader.

Craig lives with autism. And at the age of 14, he's decided it's time to tackle the subject of his disability head-on.

"I often wonder if everybody understands me," he told students at Sisters Middle School last Thursday. "Some kids are big jerks to kids with autism."

It was the third time in two days Craig delivered a PowerPoint presentation to one of the eighth grade health classes.

SMS Life Skills teacher Josh Nordell gave the introduction:

"It takes a lot of guts for Craig to come up and do this," Nordell told the class.

Craig shrugged that off: "Not really, I must say."

With confidence and candor he went on to share facts about autism and his feelings about living with it.

"Sometimes I think about random things that don't matter to others," he said, listing some examples of ways that he functions differently than his peers. "Some people with autism have a hard time making friends and keeping them."

Adding a splash of humor, he explained that there is still a lack of information about how and why his brain is wired differently: "Autism is like school lunches: nobody knows what's in them, but they have theories. Scientists still have a lot to learn about it."

One thing experts do know is that the prevalence of autism is growing: one in every 110 children born in the United States and almost one in 70 boys are affected, according to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Autism is the general term used to describe a spectrum of developmental brain disorders which range in severity; combinations of symptoms vary widely. "I'm "high-functioning,'" said Craig, "which means it's hard to tell I have it."

Genetics are still considered the most likely cause of autism. Craig's family believes he had an ancestor with the disorder. "It's a hunch; we're not really sure," says Craig.

Josh Nordell speculates that Craig's autism "may or may not have been identified 20 or 30 years ago. He may have just been considered a little different or quirky."

As part of the presentation, one of Beethoven's lilting symphonies suddenly rang out through the classroom speakers.

"This is the kind of music Craig prefers," said Nordell. "It's very linear, very weighted and very calming."

Nordell is an integral part of Craig's support system. When other kids give him a hard time because he's different, Craig says, "I usually go straight to Josh."

On those occasions, says Nordell, "I'm there to assist and counsel him."

Craig welcomed questions from his attentive classmates.

"Is there something that you are really good at?" asked one girl.

His answer: "I'm great at astronomy. Well, science in general." Craig's dad Matt Wessel is a career scientist.

"Do you think you'll get married some day?" asked another student.

"For high functioning autistics, it's pretty common to get married and have a family," replied Craig.

Classmate Robert King asked a follow-up question to that: "Do you plan on supporting them?"

"Yes," was Craig's definitive answer.

"Good for you," encouraged Robert.

Later Robert praised his classmate's courage. "He's a strong individual - the way he just knocks down those barriers in front of him and gets on to the next."

Craig's challenges aren't limited to the middle school campus; he assumes responsibility for occasional tension with his brothers at home: "It's usually because of me - doing something that embarrasses them."

Craig has three younger brothers and a sister who is six.

In fact, it was some recent sibling tension that propelled him to speak to his classmates. "My younger brother was really mad at me and I figured he was getting it from the other fifth graders on the playground," says Craig.

His mother Sue Wessel remembers the bickering that went on that day. "Craig said, "You and your friends have no idea what it's like to be autistic.'"

As a result, Craig came up with the idea to educate his peers, deciding it was time to "clear things up."

For years he was angry about the hand he was dealt, says his mom, but he has come a long way. "Over the past year, he has really come to not only accept that he is autistic but to be his own advocate. That is so huge - for any kid."

Craig is on a roll, hoping to address all of the middle school health classes before the year ends; he even gave a presentation to Kathy Powell's fourth-grade class.

Robert King said he definitely understands Craig better now. "I knew autism was really hard. But I didn't know it's this hard for him every day. It's not his fault."

For his part, Craig is feeling encouraged. "I got positive feedback; I think it did make a difference. I think they understand me better now."