Arizona boy with autism entertains classmates with his on-campus TV show

From the East Valley Tribune in Arizona:

Gilbert Elementary sixth-grader Gabe Bush is a celebrity at his school.

The Gilbert 11-year-old tells jokes, and invites other students and guests to tell jokes, on his Friday show, "The Gabe Bush Show."

"Telling jokes is my official job," said Gabe, who often gives autographs around campus. "I like it because it's good for my pituitary gland. Jokes are what this school thrives on."

The show has been a part of the Tiger Town News for about two years, as student newscasters tell the school news of the day, a student sound engineer plays sound effects and songs and a student cameraman films the show. The students dance to the theme song and have a good time on camera.

Gabe is a big part of that.

But he's not your ordinary student. He is teaching himself how to speak Japanese and loves making origami, modeling with clay and drawing manga comics. He enjoys reading encyclopedias, dictionaries and comic books, and is at an advanced level in all of his subjects.

The show is a great motivation for Gabe, who has autism, said his mother, Rachel Bush.

"The child you see today has come a long way," she said.

Gabe used to show aggressive behavior toward the teachers and other students, and the show gave him something to look forward to. He now enjoys doing the show because he wants to do it for his fans, which is a milestone in his therapy, Rachel Bush said.

"It's a huge thing for him thinking about what others think," she said.

Gabe was diagnosed with autism at 14 months old. Doctors told his mother that he would never talk and to love him the way he was because he would probably need to be institutionalized.

At the time, Gabe was constantly sitting in the corner, drooling and hitting his head against the wall. He was locked into his own world, Rachel said.

She discovered her son had an allergy to dairy products. She surrounded him with good people and gave him intensive therapy. Gabe began breaking out of his shell.

"It took a lot of dedication with a lot of people, a lot of prayer, patience and therapy," said Rachel, who also has a 13-year-old son with autism.

Gabe taught himself how to read when he was 5 years old.

"We realized he was incredibly intelligent," Rachel said, adding he has a photographic memory.

Another breakthrough for Gabe came this year, when he began sitting in a regular class all day. Last year, he could only sit for a minimum of 20 minutes a day in a regular class, said Tom Waechter, who works with the school's autism students.

"Gabe was all about doing exactly what he wanted," said Waechter, who has worked with him for more than two years. "He really is shedding those autistic tendencies. The biggest one is caring for others."

Gabe has become more social and is engaging with children his own age, which he never did before, Rachel Bush said.

"He is an amazing kid," Waechter said. "He certainly has knowledge well beyond his peers. His social and behavior skills are his issue."

Friday's "Gabe Bush Show" had Superintendent Dave Allison as the guest joke teller, offering up his own funny jokes.

"Did you hear about the missing train? It was easily found because they followed its tracks," Allison cracked.

Gabe laughed and rolled on the ground. "That's a good one," he said.

"His jokes were doggone good," said Gabe, who then slapped his knee. "I like slapping my knee after a joke."

Allison was given a Gabe Bush mug. Other guests get a bookmark that says, "I told a joke on: The Gabe Bush Show," with a picture of Gabe smiling.

Besides the show, Gabe also acts - he'll be the court jester in the school play, "Robin Hood."

"I have a great dramatic role," Gabe said. "I will have everyone in tears by the end of the play."