Children with autism learn how to ride bikes at special Massachusetts clinic
In honor of Autism Awareness Month, the Northeast Arc Autism Support Center held a bike-riding clinic for children with autism and other developmental disabilities in Lynn, Massachusetts on Thursday.
George Kounga was among the children learning to ride. "I went super fast on my bike," he said excitedly before pedaling away.
"I want him to be proud of himself"
Cheering him on from the sidelines was his older brother Nathan, who was simply happy to see his 7-year-old sibling having fun.
"He has autism, and it's always been a struggle getting him to do new things," Nathan said. "I want him to be proud of himself, I want him to feel accomplished."
George was one of many children participating in the hands-on clinic Thursday afternoon. Thanks to volunteers like high schooler Meaghan Bates, children like George were able to step out of their comfort zones.
"It's just such a fun experience getting to help the kids, see them be able to grow," Bates said.
Backlash from RFK Jr.'s comments on autism
Thursday's event comes amid growing national discussion about autism. During a conference on Wednesday, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to study whether environmental toxins may be contributing to the increase in autism diagnoses. However, he received backlash for making controversial comments about children with autism.
"These are kids who will never pay taxes, they'll never hold a job, they'll never play baseball, they'll never write a poem, they'll never go on a date," Kennedy said. "Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted. And we need to recognize that we are doing this to our children."
Watching his brother learn to ride a bike, Nathan strongly disagreed. "It kind of defeats their narrative because George plays soccer," he said. "He's pretty good at it, and he competes with the other kids who don't have autism."
Nancy Lucier, Program Director at the Northeast Arc Autism Support Center, echoed that sentiment. "I'm also a parent of a 22-year-old with autism who didn't speak in complete sentences till he was in the second grade," she shared. "He has his driver's license. He rides a bicycle."
The goal of the bike clinic was to empower kids like George and show them that with hard work and support, "the possibilities for these children are endless," Lucier said.
