Gifties

I reconnected with a childhood friend the other day. We had both attended a summer program at a local university for children who were "Gifted" during the summers following our 6th-11th grade years. It was and still is a WONDERFUL program where these children can spread their wings and fly to heights not attainable in the "normal" educational realm of the mundane...clipped wings. The program was instituted by an absolute GENIUS. Being an adolescent psychologist in the 1950's, he had been brought in to deal with a group of "unmanageable" students. Quickly, he realized the intellect of these "problem" students.....and that they were bored. He then filled his faculty with forward-thinking professionals who could challenge these intellects without felling challenged BY these intellects.

These summers were filled with investigation and creativity...question and composition....art and music...attaining a dream, an "Impossible Dream" of a world where knowledge and intelligence was honored...not ridiculed. Thank you Dr. Middleton!

So, this former-fellow "giftie" and I were discussing our children. She and I both have 3 children...her son has Asperger's and 2 of my sons have Aspergers. We were wondering just HOW MANY former "gifties" have children that fall somewhere on the Autism Spectrum. The conversation went further to....maybe WE all held certain aspects of Autism...allowing us to dream and accomplish that which other students found boring or nerdy. Yet, we had an advocate in a humble psychologist who cared enough to look beyond the first level of identity to the possibility of what could be...the persons we could become...and a better world for it.

I pray that my Aspie sons will find such and advocate.