Aspergian Pride

Leland Coats, a high school student in Charleston, West Virginia, recently received a community service award for rescuing his relatives from a house fire. While staying overnight with his cousin’s family, he smelled smoke. Everyone in the house was still sleeping, and he woke them up and got them safely outside.

Leland, who did not talk until he was nine years old, attends an autism program at Capital High School. He enjoys playing musical instruments and computer games. After he graduates from high school in May 2008, he would like to work as a caregiver or in some other career that involves helping people.

Although he feels embarrassed by all the praise he has received, his mother says that he deserves it and that he has made her very proud.