Florida Boy Scout won’t let autism stand in way of Eagle Scout dreams

Published October 25, 2015

This undated photo shows 17-year-old AshytonChance Stone, who won't let autism stand in the way of his Eagle Scout dreams. (Stone Family)

A Florida teen who has earned more than 70 merit badges, led 50 Boy Scouts and adult volunteers in an effort to beautify a special needs facility in his community Saturday, FloridaToday.com reported.

AshytonChance Stone, 17, who has autism and also has difficulty speaking, told the website the task wasn’t “difficult at all.”

“I just run, help everyone out and be in charge,” he said.

Stone chose Washington Square, a non-profit intermediate care facility for developmental disabilities in Titusville, Fla., as the site for his project.

Darlene Stone, the teen’s mother, said she was amazed by the amount of donations that came pouring in for her son.

“Speech is really difficult for him, so to go out into the community and say ‘May I have a donation’ was quite difficult,” she told FloridaToday.com. “It took a while for his speech and language to get there.”

However, members of Troop 481 and the volunteers seemingly had no trouble understanding his directions as the group finished the extensive work in just a few hours.

“A lot of what they are doing today, we would have never have been able to do within a year,” Steve Danos, program director for Washington Square, told the website.

Stone will next be required to present the American flag at an October ceremony in his quest to become an Eagle Scout.

“He never ceases to amaze me,” said Darlene.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/health/florida-boy-scout-wont-let-autism-stand-in-way-of-eagle-scout-dreams