Staying adaptable is the default mode for the Kipp family. Chad and Heather have four children, and their oldest, 8-year-old Austin, has been diagnosed with autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorder.

Depending on his mood and response to outside stimuli, Austin can send his St. John the Baptist Parish family in any number of directions.

“Going out to eat at a restaurant usually doesn’t happen unless we are going to eat Mexican food, because Austin would eat tortilla chips all day, every day if you’d let him,” Heather said. “Going to the movies is hit or miss — he may be completely enthralled and have a great time. He also may be super sensitive to the high volumes, and we have to duck out in the first 15 minutes because he can’t handle it. So being adaptable is the biggest thing we have to remember because we can adapt to our surroundings and changing situations, but Austin is not as able to do so.”

Austin doesn’t do well with loud noises, but, in the right environment, can have an amazing time, like when he watched the fireworks in Disney World last spring.

However, fast-forward to the LaPlace Mardi Gras parade Feb. 26 and the Kipps had to exit 10 minutes in when the fire truck sirens were too much for Austin to handle.

The family had a much better experience a week ago when Austin was all smiles during gold medal-performances in the Louisiana Special Olympics bowling tournament.

The Emily C. Watkins Elementary School student earned gold medals in singles and mixed doubles bowling.

Heather told me Austin’s winter sports options were bowling, basketball and tennis. Bowling comes natural because his games on the Wii video game console and a few school field trips to bowling alleys.

The family even uploaded a YouTube video the night before the tournaments, where Austin said he was looking forward to collecting some strikes and spares. He ended up with three spares, two medals and a weekend full of great memories.

Plus, now our sports-loving community has another champion to celebrate.

“It was really an incredible experience,” Heather said. “He used to be so shy and withdrawn but he really took to his lane assistants. He didn’t have any meltdowns over the weekend so that just made it all the more enjoyable. He went in with the attitude that it was all about fun and it didn’t matter if he won or not, so there was no pressure. We all had a great time.”

Chad and Heather’s four children include Austin, Ethan, Mason and Emma Grace. Ethan is on the waitlist for an autism evaluation and has already been diagnosed with selective mutism and ADHD.

Despite the challenges, the Kipps have plenty to celebrate.

Staying patient and kind is Heather’s advice to community members encountering friends and neighbors dealing with autism.

“Kids with autism may have idiosyncrasies that we are not aware of or used to, so just ask their parent that’s with them how it’s best to communicate,” she said. “For kids with sensory processing disorder, just ask what they can and cannot eat or if noises like loud music or noisemakers at a birthday party will bother them. …Again, just be adaptable and teach your kids to be kind and patient as well. Austin has had kids call him weird and tease him, but I just tell him weird is a side effect of being awesome!”

According to his mother, Austin is doing great in second grade thanks to teachers Rebecca Steinkamp and Marissa Voros and adding in Special Olympics sports has enhanced his quality of life.

“Even without a medal, Austin is one truly amazing, unique and special kid,” Heather says, “and, I couldn’t be more proud that he’s mine.”

Stephen Hemelt is publisher and editor of L’OBSERVATEUR. He can be reached at 985-652-9545 or stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.