By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
CONNOR’S life has been changed through music.
Connor Raselli, 14, is on the autism spectrum, and struggles to make friends, his mum Elk Raselli said.
But since listening to an inspiring speech at an ICAN Network seminar, the former Berwick Grammar student decided to take a leap of faith and join the rethink autism movement.
Since joining the network Elk said her son was a different person.
His life is “happier and brighter”, she said.
“It’s hard for him to make friends because generally people on the autism spectrum have social and emotional disabilities and they can be highly intelligent but struggle socially.
“ICAN has been absolutely fantastic for him, it’s been a positive in his life and given him mentors who also have autism that he can go to and speak to about things.”
However, the biggest change in Connor’s daily life since joining ICAN in April this year has been teaching himself how to play the piano.
“After he got back from his first ICAN camp, I heard him having a tinkle on the piano and I thought wow,” Elk said of her son’s musical transformation.
“The piano had just been sitting there – it was ICAN that empowered him.”
Connor is now a member of the eight-piece ICAN band.
“He rehearses every Sunday, he’s the youngest in the band, and it’s given him amazing opportunities he wouldn’t have otherwise had,” Elk said.
The ICAN band performed in front of a crowd of 500 people at the launch of the ICAN Network on Monday 23 November at the Docklands.
“Connor played the keyboard in front of all those people, and it was filmed by the ABC – I can’t speak highly enough of ICAN and what they’ve given to Connor,” Elk said.
With a new musical hobby, new friends and a fresh a start at a new school for people on the autism spectrum Connor “is a changed man”.
For more information on the ICAN Network visit: icannetwork.com.au
