Young San Antonio Scrabble Star with Autism Competing at Nationals
[Source: KSAT]
San Antonio 12-year-old Ricky Rodriguez has always had a way with words and will use those skills at a national Scrabble competition in Washington, D.C..
Rodriguez was diagnosed with Autism when he was a toddler. His parents say that has not held him back from competing at some of the highest levels of Scrabble.
“In this Scrabble scene, he fits in really well with his abilities and his focus,” said Erin Rodriguez, Ricky’s mother. “His photographic memory, his word knowledge, attraction to words and language.”
Rodriguez will compete at the North American School Championship this weekend in the nation’s capital.
During KSAT’s visit to his Northwest Side home before his family left for D.C., Rodriguez kept it simple when asked about his strategy.
“I’m trying to get lots of points,” said Rodriguez. “I don’t have a favorite word. I just play whatever I can think of on my rack.”
PediaStaff is Hiring!
All JobsPediaStaff hires pediatric and school-based professionals nationwide for contract assignments of 2 to 12 months. We also help clinics, hospitals, schools, and home health agencies to find and hire these professionals directly. We work with Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational and Physical Therapists, School Psychologists, and others in pediatric therapy and education.