Local Boy With Autism Graduates From Guyer

by Steve Gamel | photos courtesy of Alyssa McDonald

Perhaps Cole Summers thought about receiving his high school diploma just like every other kid did on that makeshift stage at Texas Motor Speedway — with a slow, purposeful walk and a proud outstretched hand.

But this wasn’t your ordinary Guyer graduation day. And Cole wasn’t your ordinary kid.

So in true Cole Montgomery Summers form, he playfully took what can best be described as a Tim Tebow kneel (or Tebowing) before standing back up just in time to accept his diploma. Naturally, the Guyer faithful roared with cheers.

“He didn’t tell us that he was going to do that,” Cole’s mother, Alyssa McDonald, said. “The way he did it was so Cole.”

His father, Matt Summers, agreed.

“It was loud and windy that day, but I’m not lying … he did get more people to cheer for him than anyone else.”

While every graduate deserves high educational path, it was a particularly

poignant milestone for Cole, who was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS). The condition is now part of a broader category called autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While the people diagnosed with PDD-NOS are “higher functioning,” the condition does affect their social skills and ability to communicate in a variety of ways. In Cole’s case, doctors told his parents that he’d need help for the rest of his life, including the possibility of not being able to work or graduate from school.

Not only is Cole defying those odds, but he took classes at Guyer with the same curriculum as his classmates. He graduated with a cumulative 3.5 grade point average and is going to NCTC. praise for taking that next step in their

He wants to be a sports broadcaster.

“We were told to be ready for him to live with me forever,” Alyssa said. “That fired us up, and we pushed and pushed. But on top of that, it was Cole’s will to succeed that made the difference. In his eyes, he was never going to be mediocre.”

The journey wasn’t easy. Though Cole has one of the more infectious personalities you’d ever hope to be around, he was misunderstood for a long time and regularly faced ridicule and bullying from his classmates. Teachers tried their best to be accommodating, but they either fell short or the school wasn’t set up to meet his needs. Things changed for the better when he came to Denton ISD. Cole went to E.P. Rayzor Elementary, followed by McNair Elementary for fourth and fifth grade and eventually Harpool Middle School. He still craved acceptance from his classmates, but he had a great support system with his teachers. At Harpool, he played football and was the equipment manager for the basketball team.

“What helped Cole was that he went to elementary and middle school with the same kids,” Matt said. “Both of those schools were challenging for him socially, but as his peer group matured and the autism spectrum disorder became visible, and people became more educated, they finally had a chance to understand him.”

By the time he got to Guyer, Cole was flourishing and quickly became a vital piece to the Guyer social puzzle. He was at every game, every pep rally, and even went to prom. He buckled down and committed himself to excel in academics, to the point where he’d wake up and go to school early for tutoring and stay late for more help.

Everyone knew Cole, and when he walked across that stage, everyone was eager to celebrate an incredible journey.

“He’s that kid who would never give up,” Alyssa said. “He always said, ‘Well, if they can do it, why can’t I do it?’ He’s grown so much in this last year. I can hardly believe it’s him.”

Matt agreed, adding that the road ahead is whatever his son plans to make of it.

“I don’t think any of us thought he wouldn’t graduate,” Matt said. “The fact that he did graduate was exciting because it closes one chapter and opens another. And I promise you; Cole is ready for it.”