(April 23, 2009)

BISHOP--When it comes to dealing with students with autism, one school district in the Coastal Bend is breaking the mold, allowing autistic children to take part in the school band. and it's a concept that's getting rave reviews from area educators.

It's the sound of a xylophone. Seventh-grader Max Clarke, an autistic child in Bishop, is making the music.

When we talked to him, he had a hard time expressing himself but he knew one thing.

"I do enjoy this," said Clarke. 

"To see him be able to play music it's just my heart is full. I can't describe it," said Judy Clarke, who is Clarke's mother. 

Autistic parents are told their kids can't do a lot of things. His mom was concerned that music would hurt his ears because he's afraid of loud noise.

So when Max asked to be in the band, she took a chance and allowed him to follow his heart.

"For him to be in band doesn't make sense at all, but autism itself doesn't make sense," said Judy Clarke. 

His band teacher had no problems with the request as long as max wanted to learn.

"We do things like make the music a little easier," said Steve Edlin, the Bishop Consolidated Independent School District Band Director. "We take time in the beginning to figure out what kind of instrument they will be good on, what fits them as we do with any student."

Professionals who deal with autistic children can't believe what they're seeing. 

"So for us to see Max being accomodated back in the back, but still with the band with the team is something that is a rarity," said Dr. Nori Mora, who works for the Regional Education Center of Region 2 that covers the Coastal Bend. 

The next step for Max is to perform at halftime of a football game. He's already in training and his family knows he can do it.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com