In 2018, the baseball sports world celebrated a historic milestone when Tarik El-Abour became the first openly autistic player to sign with Major League Baseball. While this achievement might seem worlds away from the daily routines of family life, it represents something profound that resonates with every parent of a child with autism: the dream of seeing their child reach their full potential, whatever that may look like.
If you’re reading this story as a parent or caregiver, you might feel a mix of emotions. There’s inspiration and hope, certainly, but perhaps also questions about your own child’s future. Will they find their passion? Can they overcome the challenges they face? What does success really mean for a child with autism? While not every child will become a professional athlete, El-Abour’s journey reminds us that every child with autism has unique strengths waiting to be discovered and nurtured. The question isn’t whether our children can achieve great things, but how we can best support them in discovering what greatness means for them.
Recognizing the Spark Within
One of the most powerful lessons from El-Abour’s story is the importance of recognizing and nurturing individual strengths. Somewhere along his journey, the people around him noticed his natural ability and genuine love for baseball. They didn’t try to force him into a different mold or focus solely on areas where he struggled. Instead, they built upon what already sparked joy and engagement.
As parents, we have countless opportunities to observe what truly captures our child’s attention. Maybe your child knows every detail about trains, spending hours arranging toy locomotives in precise patterns. Perhaps they notice mathematical relationships that others miss, or they have an incredible memory for music or visual details. These aren’t just “interests” or ways to keep them occupied, they’re windows into how their mind works and potential pathways to growth, learning, and confidence.
The key is shifting our perspective from seeing these intense interests as obstacles to viewing them as assets. When a child can focus deeply on something they love, they’re demonstrating remarkable concentration and learning ability. The challenge becomes finding ways to use these strengths as bridges to develop other skills. If your child loves trains, that passion can become a foundation for learning about geography, history, physics, or social interaction through model train clubs.
Take the time to really observe your child during their favorite activities. What skills are they naturally demonstrating? Are they showing attention to detail, pattern recognition, creative problem-solving, or sustained focus? These observations can guide you toward activities and learning approaches that work with their natural tendencies rather than against them.
Building Success Through Patient Support
El-Abour’s achievement didn’t happen overnight. It required years of consistent support, practice, and probably many moments when progress seemed slow or uncertain. This mirrors the reality for families raising children with autism – meaningful development happens through patient, sustained effort rather than quick fixes.
Creating an environment where your child feels safe to explore their interests while gradually building skills in challenging areas requires creativity and flexibility. You might find yourself adapting your communication style to match how your child processes information best. Some children respond better to visual cues, while others need extra time to process verbal instructions. Some thrive with detailed schedules and predictability, while others need more flexibility to follow their natural rhythms.
Consider how you might weave skill-building into activities your child already enjoys. If they love video games, that interest might provide opportunities to practice turn-taking, problem-solving, or even social interaction if you play together or connect with other families who share similar interests. If they’re drawn to art or crafts, these activities can develop fine motor skills, planning abilities, and self-expression while providing natural opportunities for conversation.
The goal isn’t to eliminate your child’s unique traits or force them to fit a typical mold. Instead, it’s about helping them develop the skills they need to navigate the world while honoring their individual way of experiencing life. This might mean finding alternative ways to practice social skills that don’t feel overwhelming, or discovering communication methods that work better for your child than traditional approaches.
El-Abour signed with the Kansas City Royals
Celebrating Every Victory
One aspect that often gets overlooked in success stories like El-Abour’s is the countless small victories that built up to the bigger achievement. Every time he connected with a pitch, made a good play in the field, or successfully navigated a team interaction, he was building confidence that would eventually support his larger goals. For families, learning to recognize and celebrate these smaller moments is crucial. Progress might look like your child making eye contact during a conversation about their favorite topic, successfully trying a new food after months of gentle encouragement, or independently completing a task they’ve been working on. These moments might seem small to outside observers, but they represent real growth and deserve recognition.
The way we celebrate matters too. Some children love enthusiastic praise, while others might feel overwhelmed by too much attention. Pay attention to how your child responds to different types of acknowledgment. Some might prefer a quiet “I noticed how well you did that” while others thrive on high-fives and celebration. The key is matching your response to what feels good to your child rather than what you think celebration should look like.
Building confidence happens through experiencing success, and success can be defined in many different ways. For one child, success might mean participating in a group activity without becoming overwhelmed. For another, it might mean using words to express a need instead of having a meltdown. Each child’s definition of success will be unique, and our job is to help them experience it regularly enough to build genuine confidence in their abilities.
Preparing for Tomorrow’s Possibilities
While we celebrate El-Abour’s achievement, many parents find themselves wondering about their own child’s future. Will they be able to live independently? Can they find meaningful work? How can we prepare them for a world that doesn’t always understand or accommodate differences?
The most important preparation often happens in everyday moments rather than formal training. Building real-world skills might start with simple responsibilities at home that gradually increase in complexity. This could mean helping with meal preparation, managing their own belongings, or taking on age-appropriate chores that build both practical skills and self-confidence.
Community experiences play a vital role in this preparation. Regular outings to grocery stores, libraries, or parks provide opportunities to practice social skills and navigate different environments. These experiences work best when they’re built around your child’s interests and comfort level, gradually expanding their world at a pace that feels manageable.
Independence doesn’t mean doing everything the same way everyone else does. It means developing the skills and confidence to navigate life in ways that work for each individual. Some people will always need more support than others, and that’s perfectly acceptable. The goal is helping each child reach their own highest potential, whatever that might look like.
Consider connecting with other families who have children with autism, especially those who are a few years older than yours. These connections can provide valuable insights into what lies ahead and help you understand the range of possibilities for your child’s future. You might be surprised by the diverse paths other families have discovered.
Finding Your Support Team
Behind every success story like El-Abour’s, there’s typically a team of people who believed in the person’s potential and provided the right kind of support at the right times. For families raising children with autism, building this support network is one of the most important things you can do. The right support team might include family members, friends, teachers, therapists, and other professionals who understand your child’s unique needs and strengths. What matters most is finding people who see your child as a whole person with potential, not just a collection of challenges to be fixed.
When evaluating potential supports, pay attention to how professionals interact with your child. Do they take time to understand what motivates and interests them? Are they willing to adapt their approaches based on how your child learns best? Do they involve you as a partner in your child’s development rather than just giving you instructions to follow? The most effective support often comes from people who combine professional expertise with genuine care and respect for your child’s individual personality. They should be able to explain their approaches in ways you can understand and help you see how therapeutic goals connect to real-world skills your child will need.
Remember that you know your child better than anyone else. A good support team will value your insights and observations, treating you as the expert on your child’s needs, preferences, and family circumstances. They should be willing to collaborate with you rather than simply telling you what to do.
Writing Your Own Success Story
El-Abour’s journey to Major League Baseball represents something beautiful about human potential – when we combine individual strengths with consistent support and genuine belief in what’s possible, extraordinary things can happen. While your child’s path will be uniquely their own, the same principles apply: recognizing strengths, providing patient support, celebrating progress, and believing in their potential.
Every family’s story will look different, and that’s exactly as it should be. Success might mean your child finds deep satisfaction in a career that matches their interests and abilities. It might mean they develop meaningful friendships and relationships. It could mean they discover ways to share their unique perspective and talents with the world. Or it might mean they simply feel confident and valued for who they are.
The most important thing is that you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Raising a child with autism requires patience, creativity, and sometimes help from professionals who understand your child’s unique needs. Seeking support isn’t a sign of failure – it’s a demonstration of your commitment to helping your child thrive.
If you’re ready to explore how personalized support might help your child reach their full potential, we invite you to call Norfolk Autism Center at (757) 777-3229 or visit us at 152 Burnetts Way, Suffolk, VA 23434. Let’s discuss how we can support your family’s journey toward discovering and nurturing your child’s unique strengths.
To read more about Tarik El-Abour’s inspiring journey, visit the original MLB article.
