While most of the time he said feels just as normal as anyone else, junior Tommy Leath knows he’s not. As an infant, Leath was diagnosed with autism.

According to the National Autism Association, 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with autism.

Autism is a bioneurological development disability that generally appears before the age of 3. Early symptoms are based upon their learning development, interacting with others and beginning to talk. If an infant doesn’t make frequent eye contact, the child is not beginning to make any communication, and laughter along with smiling has not occurred, autism may be the cause.

“Sometimes things are really hard for me,” Leath said. “I didn’t get along with people for a long time.”

Special Education teacher Becky Runnels helps Leath grow in social skills and communication.

“Tommy is really good at a lot of stuff, but reading comprehension is difficult for him,” Runnels said.

Leath was put into Runnels classroom during the beginning of tenth grade according to Runnels.

“My class is originally made for kids with extreme conditions, but we figured it would be best for him to interact here since his main focus is social skills,” Runnels said.

Leath said he has improved majorly over the past year Runnels said.

“His skills have made him more outgoing as an individual. He has taken an opportunity in his self,” Runnels said. “He’s became more caring, and he even helps us with the other children in the classroom.”

Leath gets confused more easily than others.

“Not a lot of kids take the time to know me because I am autistic. If I have a problem learning something, I don’t know how to fix it,” Leath said.

Leath’s classes include EAST, construction, family consumer science and he has a passion for ROTC.

“I like drawing and being on ROTC. I love wearing the uniform, too,” Leath said. “I also want to become a builder, considering I am more of hands-on kind of person.”

Classic autism is based upon someone with language delays, communication challenges and intellectual disabilities. Asperger Syndrome and Pervasive Development are much less mild cases of classic autism controlled around difficult language skills.

Like many other children that are autistic, self-esteem can affect the development and behavior of the child according to the NAA.

“More than anything that keeps Tommy from improving more is his self esteem. It makes him not very sure of himself to the point where he doesn’t speak up when he needs something or has a question,” Runnels said.

Runnels assigns Leath to get breakfast everyone morning for the classroom to achieve his responsibility skills.

“Tommy will be able to live by himself one day with the help of supports,” Runnels said. “If he had his own trailer or apartment, he would need someone to come in every so often to help him out and keep him on top of things. I think Tommy could very likely be self sufficient.”

Spending time with his family is important to Leath.

“I love talking with my family; we talk all the time. My brother and I do not get along much. We have ups and downs a lot. He’s 15, and I’m 17, and yet he is taller than I am,” Leath said. “I love laughing with him though.”

Leath said he enjoys Runnels class more than any other class.

“A lot of people make jokes at me. They think I don’t understand what they are saying, but I do. I’m a lover, not a fighter, so I don’t really get that mad at people. I am a pretty nice person and you can always trust me,” Leath said.