John Wasyl Beaton-hawryluk

As a baby John was very quiet and did not babble, and his speech did not develop although he understood and responded in his own way to commands. At 2 it was discovered that he had glue ear. He had the operation to fit gromits and as parents we thought his speech would then develop normally. When he was assessed he only had 4 words and we were told that he was lip reading. After a year of speech therapy and only vowel sounds as a family we had to leave Aberdeen to go to Stockton on Tees. Devastated at leaving Scotland I threw myself into making a new life for the family. We met a friend who in twice meeting John told me he had dyspraxia. She agreed to go into School and work with him and the teachers. His speech was now perfect within one year of therapy but he still struggled with Gym and ball games. When we played football he would pick the ball up and run away with it. His school helped on a daily basis and did exercises with him. After years of struggling he now referees Rugby, is a scout leader, was a member of youth parliament. At 14 he organised 100 scouts to carry flags at Murrayfield for the Calcutta Cup. At 17 he was diagnosed with Asbergers he never uses his difficulties as an excuse that he can`t do things. He never thought he would pass his exams but he proved us all wrong by 2-A 1-B 3-C AT intermediate 2 this year sitting higher Business management. He has a job in McDonalds and he has applied to volunteer at the Olympics. His real ambition is to referee 7`s rugby.