4th April 2011 9:00
By Blue Tutors
A 12 year old boy in Indianapolis tutors other students in Maths and Physics at his university. A report on the Indiana Daily Student website tells how Jake Barnett was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2, but, with the help of his mother, has overcome those difficulties to succeed academically, and even help others almost twice his own age.
Ten years ago, when Jake was diagnosed with autism, his mother, Kristine, was told that he might never speak, such were Jake’s communication difficulties, but that seems a long time ago now, and Kristine puts it down to encouraging Jake to lead his own learning, not forcing him to engage in activities that many experts advise for helping autistic children.
It quickly became clear that Jake was very able in Mathematics, and was allowed to study at a level that he found ‘normal’. Normal is Jake’s word for an appropriate pace, because he found his studies at elementary school to be too slow. Now Jake’s focus is Astronomy, but he regularly tutors other university students with Maths and Physics, and also tutors students with learning difficulties.