Towson, MD. Owen Skerry slumped into the last row of golden seats and cupped his ears, a preemptive strike to block out the noise usually generated on game days. But on this Sunday, there was only silence inside an empty SECU Arena, and it threatened to disrupt the routine so important to the 4-year-old autistic child, whose father, Pat, coaches the Towson mens basketball team.
Can you tell me whats wrong? Owens mother, Kristen, asked as he rocked around and kicked a nearby chair. It turned out he wanted juice. Kristen pointed to Owens lap, at the computer application that helps improve his verbal skills. Can you show me on here? Can you show me juice? she asked.
Owen tapped the screen twice, and an automated voice piped through the speakers. Candle juice, it said. Owen giggled at the nonsense phrase. He had developed a keen sense of humor with his limited vocabulary, asking for popcorn and bagels during bath time. These small moments of growth were cherished by the family, but having an autistic child means the process is never over.
To the Skerrys, the process involves reviewing the days schedule before leaving the house in the morning so Owen wont be surprised and throw a tantrum. It includes driving Owen to the speech therapist (three times a week), morning class (four times a week), occupational therapy (once a week), afternoon school (four times a week) and, on Fridays, alternating sessions of behavioral and feeding therapy.
It means practicing the walk from the parking lot to the arena so Owen wont fuss at an unfamiliar path before Saturdays game, when fans will stuff the place to watch the Tigers play Drexel but also to learn about children like him.
Last season, Kristen and Pat Skerry created Autism Awareness Night, inviting local advocacy organizations to Towsons home game against UNC Wilmington. This year, theyre thinking bigger. On Saturday, at least 82 Division I coaches with names like Boeheim, Krzyzewski and Izzo will wear puzzle-piece pins shaded royal blue to symbolize autism awareness.
Its become bigger than I thought it would be, Pat said, holding Owens hands as they stepped onto the court. But its on a much greater level than some basketball coaches asking each other to wear something on TV.
A foreign concept
When friends ask about the severity of Owens condition, Pat and Kristen Skerry find it difficult to answer. The autism spectrum is employed abstractly to recognize the wide range of possible symptoms. It doesnt slap a grade or number on the individual. The way autism manifests in Owen is different from others. Its just easier to tell his story.
It was at 18 months, Kristen began. Pat was coaching at Providence in 2010, still climbing the ladder as an assistant. Owen had reached all the normal physical benchmarks like crawling and walking, but he wasnt talking and wouldnt make eye contact.
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Towson Coach Pat Skerry spreading the word about autism awareness