To the boy who showed interest in my son's special interest

This post has been featured on The Mighty Site.

You wrote him a short note saying you thought karting sounded interesting and could he tell you about it. All we can say is thank you.  Thank you for giving Anthony the opportunity to write. Thank you for providing him with motivation.  Thank you for allowing him to show what he knows.  Thank you for giving him confidence in himself.  Thank you for showing him someone cares about what he thinks.


As a boy with autism, Anthony's interests tend to be very focused and he has difficulty engaging in conversations or meaningful tasks not associated with what he's interested in. Some people with autism can turn their special interest into an advantage, such as a career, valuable hobby or a way of relaxing.  Anthony reveals in talking about and doing anything to do with his current special interest, motor racing.  But what happened when one boy took an interest in Anthony's topic, was, to us, amazing.

Anthony has no problem talking about racing.  Indeed, sometimes you can't stop him.  This currently includes being able to script all the highlights of the 2015 Formula 1 Season from the television.  When he appeared to his class for Show & Tell in his full karting gear, it was deemed the 'best ever' by the class.

What Anthony really struggles with at school is writing. Anthony has autism, ADHD, SPD and hypermobility.  In short this means he finds it difficult to hold a pencil, feel what the pencil is doing, concentrate on what he is supposed to be writing and finds it physically tiring. It's no surprise that Anthony has never written more than a single of page of work at school in messy writing.  He is also very concerned about getting things wrong so will make sentences short, using small words so he is less likely to get tired or make a mistake. This has limited his practice and confidence.

But, thanks to a friend of a friend from school, Anthony has suddenly surpassed himself.

Following this kind gesture, Anthony was able to let go of worries about getting everything exactly right, he was able to write as he would talk. He produced three pages of words which talked about karting and showed the world that he isn't stupid and has an understanding of principles such as counting, friction and forces.

I have transcribed his letter underneath.

To Henry,

This is my Kart. It's black, it's very good and its got a full tank and it's got a speedo.  I wear a rib protector and a karting suit and I wear karting shoes and I wear karting gloves and I wear a balaclava and I wear a helmet ad a wear a neck brace. These are the tracks I have been to. I have been to Surbiton, Daytona, Clay Pigeon, Rye House, Camberley, Barford Meadows and Thruxton.

My Kart goes very fast.  My kart has got an engine and it's got pedals. It has a radio just for information. Sometimes I drive on my own and sometimes I drive with boys and girls. You have to be a bit older to practice at some tracks. My kart has got very grippy tyres and it has got worn-out tyres and it has got dry tyres.  The dry tyres are very slippery because they are very cool.  But when I get them very hot they're going to be faster than the worn-out tyres. My kart has got three engines.  You do have to be a bit older to do kart races.

Love from
your friend

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