Autism Light: Runner

Showing posts with label Runner. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Mikey Brannigan

Autism Light #472 is Mikey Brannigan.

Michael “Mikey” Brannigan is a 23 year old runner from Huntington, New York He is the first American with autism to win the gold in the 1500 meter race of the Paralympics. He is also the first runner with autism to competitively break four minutes in the mile. His goal is to compete in the 2024 Olympics in Tokyo. Mikey Brannigan is an Autism Light because he serves as an inspiration for others with autism as he achieves greatness in running and grows through his challenges in life.

Mikey Brannigan was diagnosed with autism at age 2. His parents Edie and Kevin Brannigan took him to a running club for kids with special needs called “Rolling Thunder”. He excelled in the club under the training of coach Steve Cuomo.

Mikey Brannigan graduated in 2015 from Northport High School in Huntington, New York. He was one of the top track athletes in the country in 2015 and received letters of interest from colleges throughout the United States. However, because of his learning disability he could not meet the academic requirements of the NCAA and did not attend college.The following is a biographical video of Mikey Brannigan from when he was awarded the High School Athlete of the. Month by Sports Illustrated.

When asked if his autism makes him a better runner, Mikey Brannigan said that it makes him “a better person.” Today Sonja Robinson coaches Mikey Brannigan and keeps him going toward his goal of qualifying for the 2024 Olympic in Tokyo (For more information see “Coach Sonja Robinson Keeps Mikey Brannigan On Track”). Mikey practices at the New York Athletic Club, who sponsors some of his travel expenses for events. The following is a video of the NBC news story about Mikey Brannigan winning the Gold Medal for the Paralympics in 2016.

For more information on Mikey Brannigan read these stories and blog posts about his achievements.

Wikipedia: To find out more about Mikey Brannigan visit the Mikey Brannigan Wikipedia Page.

Social Media: You can follow Mikey Brannigan on the following social media areas.

Facebook at the Following Mikey Brannigan Page.
Twitter @MikeyBrannigan

Special thanks to Mikey Brannigan for being an Autism Light. He serves as an inspiration to many families with autism and demonstrates how running can potentially help those with special needs to shine. We wish Mikey best of luck in training for the Olympics. We expect to hear great things from Mikey Brannigan in the years to come.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Alex and Jamie Schneider

Autism Lights #317 are Alex and Jamie Schneider.

Alex and Jamie Schneider are 23 year old identical twins from New York who have autism. Alex and Jamie received national attention for their inspiring story of running in races as individuals with autism. Their family has developed a website on their accomplishments in life called Autism Runners. Alex and Jamie Schneider are Autism Lights for the way in which their running raises awareness for autism and the successful interests those with autism can have.

Alex and Jamie Schneider have prepared for and competed in over 130 races since they began their interest in running at age 8, including most recently the New York City Marathon on November 3, 2013. They ran the 2013 New York City Marathon to raise funds for the Association for Science in Autism Treatment. The following is a news story from ABC News about Alex and Jamie Schneider's participation in the New York City Marathon in 2013.

ABC US News | ABC Business News

Alex and Jamie are both nonverbal and because of the severity of their place on the autism spectrum, a guide runs with them in races to help if necessary with the variety of potential obstacles that might take place on a run outside. Both Alex and Jamie look forward to running in races and have their own styles. Alex is the faster runner and is coached by Kevin McDermott and Stephen Dalton. Jamie really enjoys the experience of a leisurely pace as he runs and is coached by his father Allan Schneider. Allan Schneider says about Jamie, "I'll explain to people, there's not a lot I can share with him, but when we're running, it's an unspoken language (ABC News)."

The twins' mother Robyn Schneider offers a reason to The New York Times why her sons enjoy running so much as individuals with autism. Robyn Schneider says, "They thrive on repetition and routine of racing. You finish, get a medal, high-five everyone at the finish line and go home (Autistic Twins Find a Release in Running, New York Times)."

Robyn Schneider said this about the days her sons race.

Race day is always a special and exciting day for us all. My emotions are high as I wait impatiently at the finish line. I watch first, for Alex, and then Jamie. And as they each approach the finish line, my heart pounding rapidly; I tearfully cheer, and think of how proud I am of their accomplishments. After the race, as we celebrate among the crowd of runners, many will approach them and offer congratulations and high fives. How grateful we are that we have discovered the gift of running (Autism Runners)!

Other Activities: Alex and Jamie participate in other activities, including horseback riding, fitness exercise, bicycling, swimming, and learning piano (Beyond Running, Autism Runners).

High School Graduation: Alex and Jamie Schneider's life included academics as well as running. Alex and Jamie Schneider graduated in June, 2011, from the Genesis School, a private school in Long Island, New York for children with autism. They also were able to walk in the graduation ceremony with their neurotypical peers at Great Neck South High School in June, 2011. Here is a video of Alex and Jamie Schneider receiving their diploma.

Social Media: You can follow Alex and Jamie's accomplishments on the YouTube Channel of Autism Runners.

Special thanks to Alex and Jamie Schneider for being Autism Lights. Their successful experience in running offers another light on autism awareness. We hope that Alex and Jamie will keep on running.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Marc Leber

Autism Light #311 is Marc Leber.

Marc Leber is from Suffolk, Virginia and is a first year student at Georgia Institute of Technology. While in high school Marc Leber competed in 16 Team Hoyt VB races with a 14 year old partner with autism named Ashton McCormick. Marc Leber is an Autism Light for making a positive difference in Ashton McCormick's life.

Marc Leber was a cross-country and track star when he was in high school at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. Marc holds several long-distance records at his high school. You can see the record of his high school track career at Marc Leber's page on Athlete.net.

Here is a video highlighting Marc Leber and Ashton McCormick's relationship that they have forged through Team Hoyt races.

"Ashton loves being in the water," said Marc Leber. "So I kind of take it as a responsibility to make him happy. That's kind of why I run. I put myself through a lot of physical pain to give him that feeling, to make him feel like he is really number one in the world, like he is in first place, like he is an Olympic marathon runner every single time (From Above YouTube Video)."

"Something clicked between the two of them," Ashton's mother Jen McCormick said. "I'm not quite sure how to describe it. Ashton needed a friend, and he found someone who understands him and just lets him be who he is (Quoted in The Virginian Pilot, Star Runner Autistic Boy Form Unexpected Friendship, August 26, 2013)."

Social Media: You can follow Marc Leber on the following social media areas:

Special thanks to Marc Leber for being an Autism Light. It is truly amazing to see how friendships between neuro-typical individuals and those with autism can enrich the lives of all of those concerned. We wish Marc Leber all the best in college and life.
Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism.

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