Derrick's story

By Derrick's mother

The prevalence of autism has made a dramatic increase over the past twenty years. Currently 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with this disorder. For many families, this diagnosis sparks the search for a cure. The very word ‘cure’ holds a promise of hope; it carries the longing for a life not just restored but fulfilled to its maximum potential. This search can be prove to be long and arduous, for there is no known cure for this neurobiological disorder. For families like mine, the initial search for a cure has shifted to an ongoing pursuit of something of equal importance – progress. For my son, progress is now more important than a cure. Someday a cure may discovered that will end the epidemic of autism, but for individuals like my son, progress carries the same hope as that of a cure – the promise of life fulfilled to its maximum potential.

In 2006, Derrick was granted the extraordinary opportunity to participate in Camp H2O, a scuba diving camp for individuals with cognitive impairments held in Little Cayman, BWI. Camp H2O was founded with the mission of "Empowering challenged individuals and their families to gain independence and self-confidence through an underwater experience in an environment of safety, respect and guidance." http://www.camph2o.org

We had never considered scuba diving as a possibility for Derrick as no one in our family was a diver. But through the dedication, passion and commitment of an amazing group of people at Camp H2O and Jim Elliot of Diveheart, Derrick was given the chance to experience the underwater world as a scuba diver.

Like many individuals with autism, Derrick faces significant challenges in the area of communication. As Derrick entered the water as a scuba diver, the communication deficits that limit him on the surface were left behind. Derrick was submerged into a world that relies on visual cues and signals to communicate. This medium of communication magnified Derrick’s visual strengths and removed the verbal boundaries that challenge him each day.

Derrick returned from his experience at Camp H2O with a desire to share his story with others. He proudly shares his DVD and scrapbooks of his underwater exploration with his family and friends and anyone else who is interested.

Through the experience of scuba diving, we witnessed amazing changes in Derrick. His independence and self-confidence soared to new heights. When he returned to high school that fall, he chose to leave the safe environment of the special day classroom and immerse himself in new opportunities that included culinary arts, drama, fine art, and digital photography.

In July of this year, thanks to the unyielding dedication of John Johnston, founder of Camp H2O, and his board of directors, Derrick along five other extraordinary individuals, was given the opportunity to return to Little Cayman for a camp reunion. This truly was a remarkable experience for each of these young adults. They all had something in common – they were all scuba divers. Each of these individuals were recognized for their abilities, rather than their disabilities, and they were given the chance to expand their horizons both above and below the aqua-blue waters of the Caribbean.

Derrick is no longer the only scuba diver in our family. He is our hero and our inspiration. Thanks to the help of Ruth Lowther of Camp H2O and Jim Elliot of Diveheart, one of our family’s dreams came true. Derrick’s sister, Ashley, and I completed our open water certification while in Little Cayman and were able to join Derrick as he experienced the wonders of scuba diving. We are looking forward to sharing in more adventures with him under the sea.

Until there is a cure for autism, progress is our greatest hope. As long as Derrick is making progress, he is reaching his maximum potential. I am eternally grateful for the commitment and passion of people who have dedicated their lives to helping individuals like my son reach that potential.

I am proud of my son and what he has overcome. I am proud of his accomplishments and sometimes I am humbled by that very same thought, for he has taught me more about courage and determination that I will ever be able to teach him.