'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism

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A combination of a great, devoted coach and two devoted parents can certainly play a strong part in sporting success for someone with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Here is an example of 18-year-old Nick and Tennis…

…Nick … has autism. But thanks to a devoted tennis coach and two gutsy parents, he has found a sport that not only captivates him, but has given him a social outlet the he has not found in other sports.
…Nick has spent a decade on the tennis courts…
…Diagnosed with autism as a toddler, sports have always been the best way for Nick to interact with others, according to his father, Wayne, who was a strong tennis player growing up in Chicago. …Nick has deficits in language, cognitive ability and social and emotional deficits. Nick can be a challenge as he has many of the stereotypical repetitive behaviors that characterize autism, and also has difficulty focusing combined with hyperactivity. Nick can get very frustrated, which means it’s been a trial and error process to try various sports, including tennis.
Luckily, trying tennis has given Nick the opportunity to work with a very dedicated Special Olympics Coach, Vicky … who has coached him since the age of 8. Vicky answered an advertisement seeking coaches for adaptive programs and has gone on to make a dramatic difference in the lives of many families. Vicky had coached at [Nick] for 15 years and understood the type of commitment it would take to be involved in these special programs.
Nick sums up his feelings about Coach Vicky with an enthusiastic, “She’s nice!”
…Parents Wayne and Marilyn …deeply appreciate the years Vicky has spent with Nick and the progress he has made. “Vicky has a way about her, always giving kids more chances,” Wayne said, adding that “she’s very structured and sets limits,” which is crucial to working within the boundaries of Nick’s autism. “Vicky is really very special. She’s a lot of the reason that it has worked,”
…Describing Nick as “the cutest kid” when he started the program, Vicky warmly describes her long time student as “outgoing and happy. He just loves to be there with everyone.” Vicky knew early on that it was going to take a unique approach to engage Nick. …She also credits Wayne and Marilyn for their extreme dedication to their son. “They never miss a practice and the consistency and commitment from the parents is so vital.”
…“Parents need to have the guts to try everything, but to have the right expectations,” she said.
“The joy is in seeing Nick learn new things, and he really likes being there,” Wayne said. He said Vicky is a natural for working with Nick, a rare combination of ability and temperament. “I still can’t believe someone like Vicky is willing to spend so much time volunteering. She’s just a very special person.”

(source: USTA Colorado - the Colorado Tennis Association)