BENTONVILLE -- It's easy to spot Cameron Leachman on a cross country course. He's the one who seems to be having the most fun.
"Huge smile on his face, all the way around the course," said John Leachman, flipping through action photos of his son. "He just absolutely loves to run."
Autism
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. The learning, thinking and problem-solving abilities of people with autism can range from gifted to severely challenged. About one in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cameron, 15, has autism, but that hasn't stopped the eighth-grader from developing into one of the finer athletes at Fulbright Junior High School.
He set a personal record Oct. 25 in the last race of his junior high career, finishing the two-mile event in just under 15 minutes. He hopes to continue running at West High School next fall.
Improvement as a runner is one thing, but those close to him also noticed improvement in Cameron's social skills. His accomplishments have forced his family to re-evaluate Cameron's future.
"Running has opened this gateway of what's possible for him," John Leachman said.
People with autism sometimes become anxious in crowds because of sensory sensitivities. Cameron has struggled with that issue, but he's fine lining up with hundreds of people at the start of a race. He craves such a situation and loves to get between people, John Leachman said.
He used to shy away from team huddles, preferring to mill outside the group. He eventually grew comfortable joining a huddle, said Stephanie Bryant, Fulbright's cross country coach.
"He did really good," Bryant said of his running. "He was always in the middle of the pack. In practice he never refused to do anything we did."
She noted Cameron used to greet her simply by her last name, as in "Hi, Bryant," but recently began calling her "Coach Bryant."
Fulbright's boys and girls cross country teams finished in fifth and third place, respectively, in a league of 14 teams this season, Bryant said.
Cameron is unaware of the results of his races. He doesn't care about his finishing time. But he does enjoy passing people, John Leachman said.
Cameron's teammates -- nearly 40 in all -- embraced him. Rachel Rosser, an eighth-grader, has known Cameron since they attended Bright Field Middle School. Cameron helped the team form a unique bond, Rachel said.
"Everyone would pitch in and help him. Someone's always running with him and encouraging him," said Rachel, 14. "He's really great. He doesn't give up. It makes everyone happier when he's around."
Shawn Holland, Cameron's physical education teacher in middle school, mentioned to Cameron's parents during spring 2015 he seemed to enjoy running at school. John Leachman, a longtime runner, decided to take Cameron on a short run with him one day.
"I had never really contemplated running with him," John Leachman said.
The day after that first run, Leachman came home for lunch. Cameron met him and asked, "You want running?" -- his way of saying he wants to be asked the same question, Leachman said.
The father and son have run countless times together since then. They ran side-by-side in the Bentonville Half Marathon in April, finishing in just more than two hours.
"We've grown closer than I ever would've imagined because of many, many miles together," John Leachman said. "I've never had more meaningful runs than I have had the past two years."
Leachman is also complimentary of Fulbright High School staff and students.
"It's going to be hard to leave because of what they've meant to Cameron. They never wavered or waffled on whether they'd let him" participate in cross country, Leachman said.
Bradley Webber, Fulbright's principal, called Cameron a "barrier breaker," challenging traditional notions of inclusion of special-education students.
"He reminds us we have to be very mindful of students as individuals rather than as labels and disabilities," Webber said.
The more Cameron has grown as a runner and a teammate, the more he's grown as a student, Webber said.
Stephen M. Edelson, director of the Autism Research Institute based in San Diego, wrote that exercise is one of the most effective treatments for people with autism.
"Studies show that vigorous or strenuous exercise is associated with decreases in stereotypic (self-stimulatory) behaviors, hyperactivity, aggression, self-injury and destructiveness," Edelson wrote, according to an article on the institute's website.
John Leachman said he's observed that firsthand with Cameron. On days Cameron runs, he is calmer and more focused, John Leachman said.
"There's a distinct difference in his attitude and demeanor. He's less prone to agitation," he said.
NW News on 11/04/2016