Mets players delight autistic children

BY MAYA ORR

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 5:24 PM EST

No one could help but smile at the New York Child Learning Institute (NYCLI) when 27 wide-eyed children got to meet New York Mets Pedro Feliciano and Omir Santos, hitting coach Howard Johnson and, of course, Mister Met.

It was all the more heartwarming because NYCLI is a school for children with autism. Founded in 1994, the program in College Point provides individual attention to children, who can remain there until they are 21 years old.

In the classroom for younger kids who were eagerly posing with the players, saying “macaroni and cheese!” for photographers, there were squeals of delight when Mister Met entered the room.

Shortly after, the older children were just as enthralled to be with their heroes and get their own autographed team caps, Met notebooks and other gifts.

The Mets have made autism a cause and long supported organizations that deal with the condition. This year May 8 is their eighth annual Autism Awareness Day at Citi Field, when they will play the San Francisco Giants.

Parents say that NYCLI is an excellent program and that they were incredibly lucky that their child was accepted.

NYCLI receive hundreds of applications each year and they can only accept 27 kids. “Unfortunately,” said Debra, whose son Sam, 14, has been attending for 10 years, “The demand exceeds the supply.”

Liz Corrao, born and raised in Flushing, is another mother who attests to the quality of the program. Her 13-year-old son Michael has been in the school since he was four. “He wasn’t talking,” she recalled. “After the first few months, I heard him say ‘I love you Mom.’”

It wasn’t a miracle, according to NYCLI Board President Audrey Sachs. “This is because of the dedication of the staff, parents, and the principal. [They] work so hard for these kids.”

Sachs said that the next thing on their “wish list” was to start residential homes for when the children outgrow their current program.

They’re just kids to the staffers. Minna Posner, one of the therapists, exclaimed “I love it,” regarding her work.

Whether they’re getting coached how to hit a play-safe baseball by Howard Johnson, or being enabled to tell their mother, “You’re pretty,” NYCLI is expanding the horizons of its kids.

“Everyday it’s a new adventure,” Corrao said.

THE COURIER/Photos by Victor G. Mimoni
Met legend and hitting coach Howard Johnson, Mister Met and catcher Omir Santos (rear) visited the kids at NYCLI with reliever Pedro Feliciano (right).