Special Graduation

We first met Krista Brown in 1998 when she started at Gibson Southern. She was the first of her kind at the school and Friday shes the first to graduate. Graduation is a time for seniors to look back at everything theyve accomplished. Thats exactly whats happening at this Gibson Southern Baccalaureate ceremony. But for senior Krista Brown graduation signifies something much larger. "Today is a milestone," says mother Monica Smith. Brown is autistic. When she started at Gibson Southern she had to be wheeled in now shes taking steps on her own - on her way to graduate. "It was the kids walking in the hallway it was them that made it happen." Brown came to Gibson Southern in 1998, but there was not Special Ed program. In 1999 she started in ninth grade she was the first with severe disabilities to step in this hallway and now shes the first to graduate. Smith helped make that happen because she knew it was about more than Kristas education, but an education for Kristas classmates. "Bring awareness kids like Krista are different but want acceptance." The fact that she is sitting with those kids on her graduation day is a sign that goal of awareness was a success. Brown and her family plan to continue educating the community about autism. Browns mom has even started a scholarship fund for Gibson Southern graduates in Browns name. This year its going to a student who will study special education in college