Michigan football player with autism shows hard work pays off

By Will Heckman-Mark | Posted 9/25/2014

Children with autism thrive on routine and tend to fixate their attention on single interests.

That could seem a recipe for success, but the condition also strips individuals of the ability to understand social signals and communicate through traditional channels.

For Josh Bailey of White Lake, Mich., football has become a vehicle to overcome autism. His determined spirit, dedication and positive attitude not only has led to success on the field, but he is an inspiration to his Lakeland High School teammates and his community.

It is rare for children with autism to play organized team sports, especially at the high school level. They struggle with collaboration and reading social cues. This can be especially difficult in the fast-paced, dynamic sport of football.

“I have never met an autistic child who is able to participate in a team sport, truly of his own initiative,” Dr. Tisa Johnson told the Detroit Free Press. “I’ve certainly seen some parents push their kids, and they are the reason they may be on an elementary team, and it has been a struggle. Typically, by the teen years, it falls by the wayside.”

Josh, however, remains committed to the game he loves and has seen his dedication rewarded. A 6-foot-6, 270-pound offensive tackle, he was named a team captain for Lakeland High School’s opening game of the season, starts on the offensive line and has been offered a chance to play college football at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati.

 “It makes me feel really vindicated,” Josh said. “That all this hard work is starting to pay off. But I still have to keep working.”

Josh was diagnosed with autism when he was 2. He didn’t learn to talk until he was 3½. As he grew, he became awkward, shy and sensitive to loud noises – all common traits of autistic children.

Through football, though, he has found a comfort zone. He has made friends and enjoys the routine of going to practice and games. He has established his place in a school of 1,600 where most autistic children could easily feel lost, confused and alone.

“Kids with autism really thrive on sameness, the adherence to routine,” Johnson said. “Football could really feed into that. It’s ritualistic, it’s routine. The drills you do. The workouts and it’s repetitive. The fact that he is a member of a team at this level, and has been doing relatively well, is quite rare.”

His effort shows that you can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it, no matter what obstacles are in your way. 

“People can call me an inspiration, but I’m just living my dream,” he said. “I got through a lot and I’m still here standing. I may fall but I will not give up. I will keep rising again.”

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