|
From The Observer News
(www.observernews.net) Top Stories By PENNY FLETCHER
But because his parents have been staunch believers in seeing that Mark is included in normal activities of boys who don’t have autism, Mark has not only become accepted in his world but has shown exceptional ability in several sports. Besides being State Champion in cycling in Special Olympics where he did more than 10K in 30 minutes of hilly terrain at Mission Hills, Mark competes with non-disabled teens as well. And when he does, they’d better be on top of their game because you don’t have to “let” Mark win at something. He just does. “We’ve always wanted to see Mark live as normal a life as possible,” said his mother, Kris. “I believe in separating him only when absolutely necessary. The more mainstream his activities, the better it is for him.” Some special classes and behavior modification counseling have been needed through the years but Kris and her husband, Allen, a well-known Sun City Center chiropractor, believe inclusion with regular children in his age group is a must. “Of course there will be some kids who don’t want to be friends with someone who is different,” said his father. “But that’s the way the world is. As he grows, Mark will have to learn to make friends with those who accept him as he is and disregard those who don’t.”
Mike Storey agrees. Mike’s son Keith, now 19, has bowled with Mark just about every Saturday morning at Oakfield Lanes in Brandon for several years. “Their friendship exists because they are patient with each other,” Mike said. Keith has an auditory processing disorder, which makes it necessary for him to retain information through repetition. This is nothing like autism yet the two have become good friends. Besides Keith, Mark has made friends with some of the bowlers in his league who have no disability. There is a problem though: Mark is a better bowler than most of them. The first person with a disability to be chosen from the 32-lane alley’s 30 teams that together have more than 80 bowlers, Mark is one of 18 bowlers to be selected for the lane’s Traveling Team. “Reliability, scores and averages are what make the cut here,” said Coach Carlos Rodgers. “Mark’s 185-190 average is what we look at.” Rodgers says he thinks Mark is the first person with a disability to ever make their Traveling Team, which like baseball’s “All Stars,” is made up of the best players from each team: in other words, the cream of the crop. “These kids don’t just need to compete in Special Olympics. When they’re this good, participating on the local teams are good for both them and the team,” Rodgers added. “People need to learn that people who look and act ‘different’ are part of society. Someday, when we are no longer here, we want to be sure Mark can live a good quality of life,” said his father, Allen. Kris and Allen started fighting for Mark’s inclusion early in his life. About 10 years ago he was on the Swim Team at the Apollo Beach Racquet & Fitness Club, which was his first experience winning awards.
Since then, he’s been on different sports teams and in Scouting from Cubs on up. Despite the fact the Zaks also have a 12-year-old daughter, Emma, and each run their own business, they have found time to volunteer as team leaders and often supervise the events in which Mark participates. “It makes it easier for people to include him if they know we’re going to be on hand, at least at first,” Kris said. Now a student at Riverview High School, Mark runs Cross Country on the school’s team and has been asked to join track and throw discus. His athletic ability often outshines his peers. Besides bowling at the Saturday morning Youth League at Oakfield, Mark also gets practice Sunday nights as part of the Brandon Crossroads Bowlers (BCB) and in the youth PBA League. When I first watched Mark bowl, I was surprised at his two-handed throwing technique, and that he can throw a strike in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise motion.
“There’s an Australian pro(fessional) who has a two-handed throw like Mark’s, otherwise I’ve never seen it done,” said Coach Carlos. It doesn’t matter. Like Mark himself, his technique is “different” and that does not make it “wrong.” © Copyright 2008 by The Observer News Publications and M&M Printing |
