Please say I'm not crazy

[AutieMom]

Ok... My 15 years old son really wants to do the American idol experience . He is high functioning autism and musically gifted in voice and instruments capabilities . It's his dream to do this. He attend a fine arts magnet school and his stage presence is just magical. Will the CM laugh at us for trying ? This is on his bucket list and he stands a chance but I'm afraid that as soon as I mention autism they will lower their heads and pass him by without a thought . Any thoughts on why I should or should not try ? We've always let him give things a go no matter what the outcome. Side note... He's been to his All state chorus 3 straight years on a perfect score. The kid can out right sing but he may not be friendly up front. He jus wants a chance . All thought ps welcome!

 

[disney is my life]

I would try. I very highly doubt that they would laugh. You don't mention when your trip is but I've heard that American Idol Experience is closing in January 2015 so if you're going before then it will likely be his last chance.

 

[asdisney]

Absolutely go for it! Let us know how it goes!

 

[lanejudy]

I say let him go for it!

Is there really any reason to even mention his autism? Unless he needs some form of accommodation specifically related to the American Idol Experience, I don't see it necessary.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[AutieMom]

Our trip is October 10-11th and we are specifically going for him to try. I just feel like the stars are aligned. He's finally old enough.... 15 in Aug and the timing of the closing means it's now or never. His voice is magical but having a conversation with him is just so so. There just has to be some pixie dust this trip

 

[MOpGrad2013]

I think if your son has the talent, then he should go for it! DD16 is in competitive choir and I know how hard it is to get those scores. Your son has the vocal chords for it and if he wants to do it on stage...GO FOR IT.

On another note, I don't think the audience or anyone else should ask about his autism. DD performs with other singers with cerebral palsy, downs syndrome, adhd, autism, singers in wheelchairs...Sure they are noticed at first, but once the music begins, their ABILITIES are show cased.

Good luck to him!

 

[bdoyledimou]

go for it -- you don't know until you try --

you know him best

 

[AutieMom]

I say let him go for it!

Is there really any reason to even mention his autism? Unless he needs some form of accommodation specifically related to the American Idol Experience, I don't see it necessary.

Enjoy your vacation!

You know... I kinda think that I may not mention it. He's high functioning enough and can follow directions and rules but may need clarification of complex language but other than that he's able. I just don't know if they have ever had anyone like him try before. He's been on the local news, done a tv commercial etc and basically a poster kid for early intervention. He just needs someone to believe in him before passing him over

 

[asdisney]

How exciting!! Can we get a preview?

 

[AutieMom]

Thank you for the encouragement . He performs with typical kids all the time so he knows what is expected . The autism is apparent off stage but somehow or another he posses the ability to just perform with no inhibitions and can just belt out a song like crazy. I would die if we spendable money to go and they turn him away based on initial conversational impressions... Sigh

 

[camper06]

You're not crazy!!

I think it is a great idea - I wish him the best of luck!

 

[AutieMom]

How exciting!! Can we get a preview?

Yes you can!! It is ok'd but search on Yiu Tube for " boy with autism wins american idol"
That video is 3 years old and he has definitely changed but in good ways but u can get an idea of the stage presence he has

 

[Mariep26]

Definitely go for it and don't bother mentioning autism. On the show a few years ago James Durbin did very well and he has ADHD (or maybe Asbergers -- can't remember) and Tourettes. Even onstage you could see some of the tics etc.. and I zeroed in on some of the awkwardness during interviews but it was all good.

I think there are many examples of disabilities not being an issue (Susan Boyle also comes to mind) to give some encouragement

Good luck and definitely come back and tell us how it goes!

 

[asdisney]

What a cutie - he's got stage presence!

Have you seen what Autism advocate, Anna Kennedy has been doing in the UK? She puts on Autism's Got Talent. Check out her site...

 

[asdisney]

http://www.autismshow.co.uk/autisms-got-talent-the-autism-show/

 

[SueM in MN]

I say let him go for it!

Is there really any reason to even mention his autism? Unless he needs some form of accommodation specifically related to the American Idol Experience, I don't see it necessary.

Enjoy your vacation!

I agree - unless he needs some kind of accommodation, I don't see it is necessary to mention it.

You know... I kinda think that I may not mention it. He's high functioning enough and can follow directions and rules but may need clarification of complex language but other than that he's able. I just don't know if they have ever had anyone like him try before. He's been on the local news, done a tv commercial etc and basically a poster kid for early intervention. He just needs someone to believe in him before passing him over

If he's done all those things, he has much, much more experience than most people.

Also, there are people without autism who basically freeze when they get questioned or when they get on stage.

Have you thought about working on some social stories or at least talking to him about how the experience may be like or different than things he's done before?
I think that would be helpful.
This is a link to a blog post about what the experience is like. It's from 2009, but I'm sure the experience has not changed that much.
http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/01/17/a-backstage-peek-at-american-idol-experience/

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "complex language", but a very useful phrase some people with autism and communication related disabilities is "I'm not quite sure what you mean. Could you please re-phrase that?"

So, anyway, good luck to him and hope he gets to compete.

 

[AutieMom]

I agree - unless he needs some kind of accommodation, I don't see it is necessary to mention it.

If he's done all those things, he has much, much more experience than most people.

Also, there are people without autism who basically freeze when they get questioned or when they get on stage.

Have you thought about working on some social stories or at least talking to him about how the experience may be like or different than things he's done before?
I think that would be helpful.
This is a link to a blog post about what the experience is like. It's from 2009, but I'm sure the experience has not changed that much.
http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/01/17/a-backstage-peek-at-american-idol-experience/

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "complex language", but a very useful phrase some people with autism and communication related disabilities is "I'm not quite sure what you mean. Could you please re-phrase that?"

So, anyway, good luck to him and hope he gets to compete.

Yes of course. He is very verbal and understands concrete language like " go turn off the light on the wall" but if u say " can you flip that switch " he would sit there trying to figure out what a switch was. We have prepped him and gone over the process and even prepared him for a "no" from the judges . We have role played how to present himself etc as we understand personality is a big part. Because of the autism he basically has no inhibitions and that part come out on stage so he has zero nerves. He can work a crowd with the best of them. However, coming off stage he will be the exact opposite and withdraw from people. We are having ongoing conversation with him. He has performed in many shows at school and he craves the stage. This is a bucket list thing for him and whatever comes from it will be great. We just want the experience for him

 

[AutieMom]

I agree - unless he needs some kind of accommodation, I don't see it is necessary to mention it.

If he's done all those things, he has much, much more experience than most people.

Also, there are people without autism who basically freeze when they get questioned or when they get on stage.

Have you thought about working on some social stories or at least talking to him about how the experience may be like or different than things he's done before?
I think that would be helpful.
This is a link to a blog post about what the experience is like. It's from 2009, but I'm sure the experience has not changed that much.
http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/01/17/a-backstage-peek-at-american-idol-experience/

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "complex language", but a very useful phrase some people with autism and communication related disabilities is "I'm not quite sure what you mean. Could you please re-phrase that?"

So, anyway, good luck to him and hope he gets to compete.

Btw... Awesome suggestion Sue about the response to language. I'm definitely going to teach him that!

 

[SueM in MN]

Btw... Awesome suggestion Sue about the response to language. I'm definitely going to teach him that!

My nephew has Aspergers and uses it. Because he is very literal, sometimes the meaning of a sentence is much different of mn

It is also one of the messages on my daughters communication device.

 

[kandb]

Good luck to your son. I hope he gets picked and wins. The only thing I would do, is talk to him about not getting picked or winning. I just wouldn't want it to be such a big disappointment to him that it would ruin the day/vacation. Good luck!