Ross is a student at SCO’s Westbrook Preparatory School. He is a motivated and engaging student who has Asperger’s Syndrome. “I’m actually different from many people with Asperger’s or High Functioning Autism in that I’m a very social guy. I like to look people in the eyes, and I don’t mind being touched at all. On the other hand, sometimes I am unaware of other people’s feelings, I can be impulsive, and I do get overwhelmed. I’m working on that.”
Ross had difficulty assimilating at his previous public school due to these challenges. However, living on campus at Westbrook as all students do, has given Ross an opportunity to work on his social skills and develop strategies to help him not get overwhelmed.
One key element of life at Westbrook is the internship program. While students find comfort and build confidence living and learning with other teens who have similar challenges, they know that they need to prepare themselves to communicate and work well with all kinds of people. Ross is now a veteran intern. His first internship was at Sports Authority, and he held another last summer at St. Brigid’s Elementary School Camp where he found it rewarding to talk to kids about sports.
Ross has now moved onto WCWP 88.1 FM, the college radio station at CW Post. He works pre-game and half time sound board at sporting events, makes guest appearances on a college sports talk show, cuts audio for promos, and researches sports information for use on air. “I like the pressure and deadlines of being on air,” he says. “I enjoy covering basketball and football. I’m learning a lot. I want to study communications in college. All the college students I work with at CW Post are positive people and treat me with respect. That means a lot to me.”
