An 8-year-old tells the world: “Bullying, no way!
The Autism News | English
By Liz Massey | Today’s THV
In Today’s Living, an eight-year-old in Florida is taking a stand against bullies.
This summer, Jaylen Arnold is on an anti-bullying mission and he is using his Tourette’s Syndrome to teach tolerance.
It takes Jaylen a while to type an e-mail. He is often interrupted by uncontrollable ticking.
Jaylen says, “It makes you do all different things you can’t control… your brain does.”
He has Tourette’s Syndrome, a neurological disorder. Many other kids don’t understand.
Jaylen’s mother Robin says, “The people who have Tourette’s Syndrome are just ticking and regular people are looking. I just want the regular people to know that they can’t control it and not to make fun of them”
Diagnosed at age 3, he’s gotten used to the laughing, odd looks and mimicking.
“They bully because they’re not aware. They don’t know what it is. It’s something different and no one likes something different,” says Jaylen.
Jaylen doesn’t let bullies bring him down. Its advice his dad taught him early on. “Speak-up for yourself, defend yourself, don’t just take it,” he adds.
This summer break, he’s using the internet to launch an anti-bullying campaign, called “jaylen’s challenge”.
Howard Arnold, Jaylen’s father, “I’m proud of the young man he’s turning into.”
With help from adults, he created a web site. “Jaylen drew his own logo. Jaylen prepared everything,” says Robin.
There are message boards, facts about Tourette’s, even this video.
His mother taped him ticking, to show others how severe the condition can be.
Since his web site launched last month, an average of 5,000 people visit it, each day.
“It it’s changed one person… It was worth it for him,” says Howard.
He personally responds to every e-mail. And when not online, he raises awareness with these yellow and blue bracelets.
“I gave them away at school,” says Jaylen.
Jaylen hopes to one day to see his “bullying no way!” bracelets around the wrists of famous folks. “The Presidents, uh… Oprah”
He’s aiming high.
While he can’t always control his body, he hopes he can help people think twice, before they making fun of someone else.
To check out Jaylen’s website, click the link to the right.
Bullying is a problem that’s been around for generations and generations.
In today’s unscientific poll on todaysthv.com, 49 percent of people said they were the victim of bullying when they were children.
Jalen’s website: http://www.jaylenschallenge.com
Source: http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=86964&catid=2
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Elena Talkaboutautism at 6:20am June 23
what an awesome kid! his parents seem really great too.