Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Poplar Bluff Junior High School students had a chance to view the world from another lens last week.
“Finding Kansas” author Aaron Likens spoke about what it is like to live with Asperger’s syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder he was diagnosed with at the age of 20, prior to which he did not realize he was different.
“If you met one person with autism, you met one person with autism,” said the 33-year-old on Wednesday, Jan. 25, in the gymnasium. “One person’s Kansas can be another person’s opposite of Kansas.”
Kansas to Likens is a state of mind; a place of familiarly where he feels “safe, confident and normal,” his book states. For him that locale happens to be the racetrack, having grown up a mile from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In addition to presenting over 800 times about autism awareness through Easter Seals Midwest in St. Louis, Likens is a successful flagman at racing events across the country.
The author of the blog “Life on the Other Side of the Wall” available at www.aaronlikens.com, Likens discovered writing as a way to express himself, he said, admitting that the craft was merely a “painful” task for him in grade school. “I’d like to say it was a noble effort – wanting to make the world a better place,” Likens said.
To the seventh and eighth graders, Likens variously described himself in a light-hearted way as unfiltered, hypersensitive and routine oriented. Individuals affected by the condition may not be good judges of body language and take things very literal, he added.
“Those with Asperger’s see and process the world around us differently,” Likens said, quite simply. Although these may seem like common traits in people, Likens explained that there are different degrees. While he is clearly well-educated about the interworking of his mind, he said he does not recognize his pattern of behavior until after the fact.
In 1980, one in 1,500 people were documented to have autism, in 1997 that number grew to one in 500, now one in 68 Americans are diagnosed with the disorder, said Likens, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A new incident rate will be released in the near future.
According to the most recent studies which, Likens noted, are incomplete, Asperger’s appears to be “a wiring issue” through which information is processed in a part of the brain that should not be receiving the signal.
R-I Special Services Director Mindy Garrett, who booked the event, said she selected the Junior High age level because students are particularly receptive to building “empathy and compassion” at that age. Likens agreed that his favorite type of audience consists of pre-teens and teenagers because of their thoughtful questions.
“It’s such an honor to be able to present at schools,” Likens posted on his public Facebook page afterward. “This student after my (presentation) came up to me and said that it was so thrilling to see someone with his diagnosis speak and to finally know he isn’t alone.”
About three-fourths of the students Aaron Likens spoke to about living with Asperger’s syndrome indicated they know someone with autism spectrum disorder.
Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
Dexter, Missouri - Southwest Elementary will begin taking Kindergarten screening appointments for the 2017-2018 academic school year on Wednesday, February 1s, 2017.
The actual screening will be held on Thursday, March 23rd and Friday, March 24th from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the Southwest Elementary gym.
All incoming Kindergarten students must attend this very important screening!
Children must be five (5) years of age before August 1, 2017 to be eligible to attend the upcoming school year.
Please call the Southwest Elementary office at (573) 614-1015 to schedule an appointment.
A Social Security number must be available when making this appointment.
The following documentation is mandatory and must be provided at the time of screening in order for your child to be enrolled:
Birth Certificate
Shot Record
Proof of Residency (Must be a financial obligation with your home address for example a utility bill, cable bill, water bill, tax statement or mortgage statement)
The last day for making an appointment will be Wednesday, March 18, 2017. Don't delay sign up on Wednesday, February 1st.
Bernie, Missouri - The second quarter honor roll for Bernie 12th grade students has been released. Students must maintain a B average to earn a spot on the quarterly Honor Roll.
The following students include in alphabetical order:
Logan Asher, Morgan Baker, Hayden Brown, Jayce Burk, Madissen Corbin, Christina Dowdy, Alex Guzman, Bailee Hyslip, Destiny Josett, Lane Mayberry, Bailey Mays, Jescie McGuire, Jaymie Owens, Macayla Owens, Austin Parson, Jeffrey Payne, Mabree Stone, Charlie Summers, Kayli Tanner, Ashley Weathers, Riley Wells, and Caleb Williamson.
Bernie, Missouri - The second quarter honor roll for Bernie 11th grade students has been released. Students must maintain a B average to earn a spot on the quarterly Honor Roll.
The following students include in alphabetical order:
Weston Comstock, Jacque Corbin, Angelynn DeLong, Nate Dillinger, Zachary Eaves, Kailee Garris, Jeri Glass, Alexandra Grass, Riley Griffin, Sydney Griffin, Rileigh Hanner, Dalton Hobgood, Chelsey Jarrett, Keaton Johnson, Brekken Jordan, Joshua Lee, Taylor Lovelady, Mason Mayberry, Kaylee Oliver, Trenton Pittman, Seth Potts, Kenneth Shavalia, Shianne Spitzer, Michael Suiter, and Emily Vickers.
The Project 21 scholarship program encourages students to educate their peers on the illegality, dangers and consequences of underage gambling. Students must write and publish an original essay or article in the school newspaper, or create a poster or video. Entries must be published or displayed at the student’s high school for at least one full week between December 1, 2016 and February 15, 2017.
Entries will be judged for originality, content, style and educational value. The article, poster or video must focus on the issues and ramifications of underage gambling.
“We want students to know it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to gamble in a Missouri casino,” said Mike Winter, executive director of the Missouri Gaming Association. “We also want them to understand the dangers and consequences of other types of underage gambling, such as card games and sports betting.”
The Project 21 Scholarship competition is open to all Missouri high school seniors planning to attend an institution of higher education in the United States within four years of graduation.
All Missouri high school seniors, including those whose parents are casino employees, are eligible for the Project 21 scholarships, provided their parent is not a Missouri Gaming Association officer or a Project 21 Executive Committee member. High school seniors employed part-time (less than 32 hours per week) by a Missouri casino also are eligible.
The Project 21 scholarship application is available at www.missouricasinos.org or by calling (573) 634-4001. Written requests for applications can be sent to PO Box 305, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Winners will be announced by March 31, 2017 and scholarships will be awarded by April 15, 2017.
ABOUT MISSOURI GAMING ASSOCIATION
The Missouri Gaming Association (MGA) is the statewide trade association of the Missouri casino entertainment industry. Founded in 1993, the Missouri Gaming Association works to promote responsible gaming and increase awareness of the economic benefits of casinos in Missouri. The MGA and its casino company members sponsor year-round responsible gaming programs including the 1-888-BETSOFF crisis line and referral service, Project 21 scholarship competition, and Responsible Gaming Awareness Week. For more information, visit www.missouricasinos.org.
