Autistic Cheerleader Jessica McCartney Learns Life Skills On Squad (WATCH)

Despite living with the day-to-day challenges of autism, 14-year-old Jessica McCartney was determined to play a bigger role at her school and thrive among her fellow students. Like many of her peers at Shadow Hills High School, Jessica is involved in extracurricular activities -- she recently earned a black belt in karate and is now a member of the cheerleading squad.

"You would've never imagined, she fits completely right in," one of her squad mates told ABC News. "She's just a good kid."

According to ABC News, Jessica was initially inspired to try out for the team by watching high school movies. She loved how the cheerleaders seemed popular and happy with their squad mates, and convinced her mother that she would do well on her school's team.

"She has to keep her grades up and she's in regular classes with everybody else," her mother said to ABC. "She's been doing exceptionally well, and I'm very proud of her."

Other inspiring high school cheerleaders include Boca Raton High School's 'special' cheerleaders. Although the seven girls on the new spirit squad each struggle with disabilities, their positive energy and passion for cheerleading have touched the entire school.

An in New Jersey, an effort to challenge stereotypes about cheerleaders led Pop Warner and the Science Cheerleader organization to break the Guinness World Record for "World's Largest Cheer" this past November. Held at the Sun National Bank Arena in Trenton, 1,300 cheerleaders from across the East Coast did a five-minute cheer about the importance of science and engineering.

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Comments

[a lovely day]

01:12 PM on 09/26/2012

Y'all should have transcripted this part from the video:

"I love cheer-leading, I love being autistic, and I love being who I am."

[MD Addington]

12:11 AM on 08/20/2012

I love the fact that she says she loves being autistic.

My daughter is also autistic and I hate when people talk about fixing her or curing her.
There is nothing wrong with her to fix. She is perfect the way she is and it is great seeing someone else embracing their autism.

Some people have to try hard to think outside the box, some people were lucky enough to be born outside the box. We would not be where we are today without their originality and ability to focus 100% on their area of interest.

I may be weird, but I personally think autism may be the next step forward in human evolution. Non autistic people rely so much on others that long term space flight and other advancements would be impossible for them.

[LLO 1969]

12:45 AM on 07/17/2012

My daughter is 7 and has been diagnosed with a slight case of autism, she is on a competitive cheerleading squad and is now being singled out by the other girls on the team, and now the president wants me to talk with my daughter to see if this is what she really wants to do. All because is pouted because she didn't know how to do something.
Trying to figure out if I should pull her out of cheerleading or not.

[RML 1]

01:54 PM on 05/31/2012

No surprise here. Competitive Cheerleading is one of the best sports for autism/HFA/Asperger's. I am speaking from experience. I would have never gone to school if it wasn't for cheerleading.

Why is it good for autistics???

Self Esteem (life long lesson)
Belong to a group/sharing/accomplishing group goals (Later a Career)
There are rules all of the athletes have to follow
Repetitive routines / Strict scheduling
Uniforms, (no need to pick out clothes)
Positive attitude, (good posture, smiling, no crossing arms etc)
Great athletic exercise, (endorphins make you happy)
Co-Ed Cheer, (no gender bias)
Fundraising experience (Sales)
Be a positive role model instead of the disabled victim

---- I am disappointed they did not show more mounting in the above video... it's just some sloppy dance moves and a straight arm cheer. For anyone who wants to see the real thing, (search you tube): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y4jFwmIwhY

[traciamc]

11:29 PM on 09/17/2012

They only spent about 15 to 20 minutes with the girls during practice. They do lots of good stunting along with the "sloppy dance moves" and the straight arm cheer. They are a real cheer squad.

[RML 1]

09:53 AM on 09/18/2012

that's totally what I am saying... I am busting on the reporters and videographer, not the squad. :-) 

[Heather Eads Tupin]

11:14 PM on 04/19/2012

This is incredible. For those of you who say she doesn't "Look" autistic- she does.. because at first glace, an autistic child looks no different from any other child. No one can see what is going on inside her head, inside her body. Not every spectrum kid will have as positive of an outcome as Jessica- but for some, hard work, effective and persistent therapies, and a strong support system can make a WORLD of difference in unlocking their potential. Keep being a rock star, Jessica!

[Caitlyn McCartney]

09:55 AM on 04/18/2012

i understand parents with severe autistic children may not believe this story at first sight,but she is indeed autistic. and no, she does not have Aspergers. Read the comments below before you make a judgment of her.

[rsstone74]

02:18 AM on 04/18/2012

I say this kindly: "Autism spectrum" disorder may be more appropriate than "autism." This disorder comes with a wide range of functionality. Bravo to this young lady for pursuing her dreams!!! Yet, families dealing with severe autism may feel uncomfortable with this story.

[traciamc]

09:09 AM on 04/18/2012

As an active member of our local Autism Society, I know many parents with children who are severely autistic. Trust me when I say they are proud of Jessica. You do not know where she has come from to get to this point, and you have seen a VERY small video clip.

[rsstone74]

12:31 PM on 04/18/2012

Hello Trac and Deb :) I agree completely. I am not discounting her wonderful accomplishments, nor the hard work that she and her family have invested. My issue is with what this story left out. The story--not the lovely girl or her family--does not address a very important aspect of "autism," which is that the disorder name now characterizes a broad, broad range of functionality. I work in message development and in education. Giving the average reader--who knows very little about autism--the sense that this is normal and that all autistic individuals can achieve it is, in my opinion, unfair to families that have worked equally hard with severely autistic children but not been able to make as much progress.

[Deb Sather]

11:20 AM on 04/18/2012

Take the video as an inspiration. Jessica has come a very long way in her 14 years. I work with many students who are diagnosed with Autism and Jessica fits the diagnosis. This video is a snapshot in ther life which is the video. She is amazing as are her sister and parents.

[brantaydes]

02:01 AM on 04/18/2012

Humm. She sure doesn't fit the picture of autism I've been accustomed to seeing. Wondering if the autistic stigma is being defined too loosely. She seems like a normal teen to me. Feel kind of bad that she's been stuck with wearing the "autistic" image here. Not sure what to think.

[traciamc]

09:09 AM on 04/18/2012

See my comment below. You can't judge her based on a couple of minutes of video. We have come a long way to get to where she is now, and you haven't seen her stimming, or doing any of the other things that give her the autism diagnosis.

[Caitlyn McCartney]

09:54 AM on 04/18/2012

read the comments below, maybe then you'll see she may not APPEAR autistic, but she is.

[eSense]

12:25 AM on 04/18/2012

I hate to see the comments about people saying "she looks normal". Autism is a disorder that a lot of who you call 'normal people' have and have had for years but has only recently gotten a name. That's all. I'm sure there are a lot of people you know who have autism, but just haven't ever been diagnosed. People with autism ARE normal. Just different. But then who among us isn't????

[jorgebrito2]

11:31 PM on 04/17/2012

This girl looks pretty normal to me.

[Caitlyn McCartney]

12:34 AM on 04/18/2012

she's gone through alot to get to that point.

[Deb Sather]

11:05 PM on 04/17/2012

I have the honor of knowing Jessica and her family. She is an amazing kid who works hard in every area of her life. She sets a goal and reaches it, not giving up when it becomes difficult. She wanted her black belt in karate nag of it, wanted to be on the cheer team and made it and is advancing to the varsity team. Her cheer team came out to support her and others at the Autism walk last weekend. Jessica is my hero letting me know that when things get difficult and I want to give up just keep working no matter how hard or long.

[Deb Sather]

10:57 PM on 04/17/2012

I have the honor of knowing Jessica. She is an amazing kid and works very hard to reach her goals. The family is supportive in all areas of her and her sisters lives. Jessica sets a goal and keeps at it until she reaches it. Autism is not totally limiting and many of these students cAn improve. She is my hero. Thank you Jessica!

[Kimberly Janette Haworth]

10:41 PM on 04/17/2012

Awww such an amzing girl seeing her ans d how she is a cheerleader I am more optimestic that my lil girl who is 6 she has autism too she will be where Jessica is I worry about her so much and her future

[karaanne90]

11:45 PM on 04/17/2012

Me too.. I am in the same boat. Stay positive!

[traciamc]

02:09 AM on 04/18/2012

She can do it! We were worried about Jessica with every new thing she experienced or wanted to try. But she has surprised us and made us proud. Don't give up!

[lndr769]

09:23 PM on 04/17/2012

HOW GREAT SHE MUST NOT BE SEVERE CUZ I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYONE WITH AUTISM SPEAK AS WELL AS HER. HER FRIENDS ARE GREAT AND IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THERE ARE SOME NICE INSPIRING PEOPLE OUT THERE

[nursemjs1]

11:16 PM on 04/17/2012

She probably has autism spectrum disorder, Aspergers syndrome. She said some things that led me to think that, because my son also has aspergers syndrome. He can talk, but he has some difficulty articulating his thoughts into words, and he can be very literal. Great for the girl to be a cheerleader, and accepted by her peers. Kudos to the mom too.

[traciamc]

02:07 AM on 04/18/2012

She does not have Asperger's. As you know, children with Asperger's do not normally have a speech delay. That is one of the things that makes them different than other people on the spectrum. My daughter most definitely had a speech delay. She was not speaking at the age of 3, and only started after speech therapy 3 times a week privately and through her special day class at pre-school and then school.

[jorgebrito2]

11:29 PM on 04/17/2012

yeah, and she is on normal classes. She doesn't look autistic.

[ceara1]

12:50 AM on 04/18/2012

and what look is she suppose to look like exactly. get real there isnt a certain look for autism lol

[traciamc]

02:05 AM on 04/18/2012

Please see my comment below. First of all, kids don't "look" autistic. They are all at different levels and have different skills and talents. My daughter could not speak until we got her intensive speech and language therapy. She was 4 or 5 before we could understand her. And yes, she is in regular classes, but she has had years of special education classes and up until this year has had a one on one paraeducator with her. Yes, she has been successful, but it's not without a lot of hard work.

[Donna Oettinger]

08:09 PM on 04/17/2012

What an inspiration story. The school and classmates as well as this fantastic young lady should be commended. It goes to prove that once you set your mind on doing something, you can accomplish anything.