Autistic Teen Leads Philharmonic Band On Christmas Day Parade

This year’s Christmas was certainly very special to someone. Someone who not only loves to play instruments but also loves Disney. Luke Berry, a 17-year old boy with high functioning autism from Massachusetts, was allowed to lead the Main Street Philharmonic marching band down the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day.

Every year the teenager, with his friends and family, would march down his street in a Christmas themed marching band. He has collected over 30 instruments over the years and loves to lead in bands. Earlier in December he was invited by the popular Disney band to lead them through the Magic Kingdom in Florida on Christmas Day.

He and his family were flown out to Florida and enjoyed an all expense paid vacation. Luke became the first minor to lead the Main Street Philharmonic group in park history.

Luke has a form of high functioning autism. Autism is a cognitive disorder which can make it difficult for some to process information. The severity of the condition various from person to person. It is not a condition that affects intelligence, as some of the world’s most brilliant and creative minds such as Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Dan Akroyd all have a form of high functioning autism. It’s like if your brain is a computer, most people process information in C# programing while people with autism process information in C+ programing. Sadly people with autism are a minority that are looked down upon and are not given many opportunities. Hopefully that can change in the future.

This is a very welcomed gift for the young teenager from New England. Not only giving him and his family a vacation at Disney for Christmas, but also allowing him to participate in the magic that the parks in Florida have to offer. Let’s hope that this isn’t the last time we’ll see something like this happen.

Source: WDWNT