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Available 8-10-12 ft. models Financing O.A.C. $5,495.00 2008 FLAGSTAFF CAMPERS From Special pullout section Wednesday, April 23, 2008 8 Pages Circulation 21,220 www.independentfreepress.com Community Calendar Pages 3, 5, 6 Peewee AE Raiders sweep past Milton Page 2 SPORTS AND LEISURE Halton Hills Community Newspaper Although local resident Doug Gillespie wasnt one of the 13 recent recipients of the Canada-wide RBC Local Hockey Leader Award last month for his volunteer efforts, hes still a winner in the eyes of one 10-year- old house leaguer. When Grade 5 St. Catherine of Alexandria student Adam Thompson told his mom Tracy two years ago that he wanted to play ice hockey, she and husband Dave were somewhat apprehensive, but willing to give it a try. Adam is autistic, and typically youths with that learning disorder dont adapt well to change or being in a team sports environ- ment. Yet thanks to Gillespies efforts, Adam recently finished his second year in the Georgetown Minor Hockey Associations atom house league and is already looking forward to lacing up the blades again in October. He progressed from basically walk- ing on his skates in the initial practice to becoming a versatile player by the end of the first season, which ended with him also lin- ing up in goal for his teams gold medal vic- tory in the GMHAs Weekend of Champions. (Its about) working on peoples abilities and making them even better, is Adams motto. Adam has Autism Spectrum Disorder, but primarily Aspergers Syndrome much like Dustin Hoffmans character in the 1988 Academy Award-winning movie Rain Man affecting one in 150 children worldwide. We were fortunate to have such a great coach in Doug for the first year because Adam wouldnt have played again this year. The coaching is what made the difference for Adam, said Tracy, a nurse for RBC trav- el insurance. For Gillespie, who has three children of his own and a cousin with a similar type of autism as Adams, the approach he took was to help Adam be part of the team on and off the ice without appearing to treat him any differently than the other players. His coach- ing philosophy is that the kids can and should play all positions, something that at first didnt go over well with Adam, a centre- man by preference. So after one game, Gillespie asked Adam if he might want to try playing left wing next time out, explained what the new position involved, and checked back by telelphone a day before the next game to see if that was still agreeable to the new position. This was key for Adam because it allowed him to make choices and know what was expected of him, added Tracy. Sometimes with the autism he loses his focus but his teammates would come over and tell him, The pucks there! and he just goes after it. Its been a very successful exer- cise for him. Gillespie also had nicknames for each of the team members and every couple of weeks would host a Sunday morning street hockey game. Adam The Atom Bomb con- tinues to receive occasional phone calls from Coach Doug, even though Gillespie over- saw a team in a different division this past season. He credits Adam with working hard during his GMHA initiation program ses- sions for the vast improvement in his skat- ing. We did have a bunch of competitive kids on the team and for Adam it was just about having fun and enjoying the experi- ence, which was really refreshing, Gillespie noted. The biggest thing for me to see from Adam was him touching the puck as many times as he did towards the end of the sea- son and he became extremely proficient at winning faceoffs, he said. Also, it was important to match him up with one or two other players so he played most of the time together and they were familiar with each other on the same line, whether it was forward or defence. Gillespie added that he can understand why parents of autistic children would be reluctant to sign their kids up for team- based recreational activities, but hopes that attitudes can change. On the GMHAs regis- tration form, a medical condition section must be filled out, although there is nothing requiring the listing of learning disabilities. Yes, the parents are terrified, but it does- nt need to be like that, he said. Its so important to make the coach aware of the situation and be up front about it. The whole team doesnt need to know, because the kids are smart enough, theyll figure it out and be supportive. All the kids on the team should definitely be treated equally in the changeroom, and then you can work a little behind the scenes. There may be just a little different learning strategy, so thats why its crucial that the coach is empowered with the knowledge and then develop a strategy together to work with the condition the child has. Its just a little extra work, not much. When asked what he liked most about playing for Coach Doug, Adam didnt hesi- tate. A ton of things, he said, smiling. Road hockey on Sundays. Winning the gold medal. We had a lot of fun. Even better, since Gillespie, who oversees goalie clinics for the GMHA as well, will also serve as convenor for the same peewee divi- sion his son D.J. plays in, its pretty much assured that Adam is a Stamkos-sure lock to be reunited with his former coach next fall, with dad Dave serving as the assistant. Coach makes a difference to autistic player EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer Georgetown Minor Hockey Association house league coach Doug Gillespie was nominated for the RBC Local Hockey Leader Award this past year because of his successful efforts to help guide 10-year-old Adam Thompson through his first sea- son of organized hockey. Photo by Eamonn Maher ...for Adam it was just about having fun and enjoying the experience, which was really refreshing. Coach Doug Gillespie