12-07-2004, 08:33 PM
http://ardmoreite .com/stories/120604/loc_1206040003.shtml
Dickson student spreads friendship
By Andrea Perry
Staff Writer
December 6, 2004
He greets everyone with a genuine concern for their day, a genuine smile and a genuine consideration that the stranger he meets is his friend. In Chaz Waters' mind everyone is his friend and he truly cares about how "his friends" are doing.
The 19-year-old senior at Dickson High School was recently voted by his classmates as "Most Friendly" in the class for the 2004-05 Senior Favorites.
Chaz, who is mentally challenged with autistic tendencies, has captured the hearts of his classmates and all those who come in contact with him.
Chaz has been going to Dickson Schools since kindergarten and has been "welcomed with open arms," his mother, Robin Waters, said. "It is just amazing that these kids have accepted Chaz the way that they have. Its just been wonderful. His classmates have been so good to him."
Chaos's limitations, according to his mother, are also his greatest gifts.
Through his autism, Chaz has created an in depth series of comic books with the help of a fellow student who contributes the art.
"Chaz's memory through his autism is phenomenal," Robin said. "His greatest passion is movies. He loves super heroes and adventure films. He can tell you the producer and writers of every action show he has ever seen."
Chaz loves super heroes so much that his alter ego "Shadow Hero" is, as his mother puts it, "Chaz, only with super powers," she said. "I keep a pencil and paper with me and wherever we are he starts to write about the things that are in his mind."
Chaz, with the help of his brother and his classmates, family and "friends" has learned to type and is currently taking a computer course at SOTC.
"I am just so proud of him and especially proud of these students at Dickson," Robin said. "It just lets me know that we really do have some young people who care about other people's feelings."
Chaz has made such an impression on his classmates that many of them feel as though he "really is our best friend," senior Josh Blancett said. "No matter how your day is he always has something positive to say."
Lacie Lang said she has gone to school with Chaz since kindergarten.
"He loves to hear people talk to him as much as we love to hear him speak to us. He has always been my buddy," she said.
Anyone at Dickson High School, student or staff will say that Chaz has a love for people and friends that surpasses the normal person's perception. He is truly gifted within his limitations and as he tells his classmates everyday, sometimes two or three time a day, "You are my friend and I hope you have a great day."
And he really means what he says.
Andrea Perry, 221-6536
andrea.perry@ardmoreite.com
Dickson student spreads friendship
By Andrea Perry
Staff Writer
December 6, 2004
He greets everyone with a genuine concern for their day, a genuine smile and a genuine consideration that the stranger he meets is his friend. In Chaz Waters' mind everyone is his friend and he truly cares about how "his friends" are doing.
The 19-year-old senior at Dickson High School was recently voted by his classmates as "Most Friendly" in the class for the 2004-05 Senior Favorites.
Chaz, who is mentally challenged with autistic tendencies, has captured the hearts of his classmates and all those who come in contact with him.
Chaz has been going to Dickson Schools since kindergarten and has been "welcomed with open arms," his mother, Robin Waters, said. "It is just amazing that these kids have accepted Chaz the way that they have. Its just been wonderful. His classmates have been so good to him."
Chaos's limitations, according to his mother, are also his greatest gifts.
Through his autism, Chaz has created an in depth series of comic books with the help of a fellow student who contributes the art.
"Chaz's memory through his autism is phenomenal," Robin said. "His greatest passion is movies. He loves super heroes and adventure films. He can tell you the producer and writers of every action show he has ever seen."
Chaz loves super heroes so much that his alter ego "Shadow Hero" is, as his mother puts it, "Chaz, only with super powers," she said. "I keep a pencil and paper with me and wherever we are he starts to write about the things that are in his mind."
Chaz, with the help of his brother and his classmates, family and "friends" has learned to type and is currently taking a computer course at SOTC.
"I am just so proud of him and especially proud of these students at Dickson," Robin said. "It just lets me know that we really do have some young people who care about other people's feelings."
Chaz has made such an impression on his classmates that many of them feel as though he "really is our best friend," senior Josh Blancett said. "No matter how your day is he always has something positive to say."
Lacie Lang said she has gone to school with Chaz since kindergarten.
"He loves to hear people talk to him as much as we love to hear him speak to us. He has always been my buddy," she said.
Anyone at Dickson High School, student or staff will say that Chaz has a love for people and friends that surpasses the normal person's perception. He is truly gifted within his limitations and as he tells his classmates everyday, sometimes two or three time a day, "You are my friend and I hope you have a great day."
And he really means what he says.
Andrea Perry, 221-6536
andrea.perry@ardmoreite.com