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Welding boost student's confidence

Getting through a recent welding competition was the spark to motivate an Okotoks student.
Kieran Slapman, who has Asperger syndrome, made the Foothills Composite High School’s welding team which competed at the Calgary Regional Skills competition at SAIT
Kieran Slapman, who has Asperger syndrome, made the Foothills Composite High School’s welding team which competed at the Calgary Regional Skills competition at SAIT April 7.

Getting through a recent welding competition was the spark to motivate an Okotoks student.

“I didn’t place, but my competition wasn’t finishing my welds but making it through there without freaking out,” said Kieran Slapman, a Foothills Composite High School Grade 11 student who has Asperger syndrome. “I don’t know if I am one of the lucky ones or the unlucky ones. I am just one of the different ones.”

He earned the fourth position on the Foothills welding team, which competed at the Calgary Regional Skills competition at SAIT April 7.

Slapman was able to get the project completed and finished in the middle of the pack among competitors.

He explained that he has high cognitive skills and “a highly advanced form of feeling as well as emotions — I don’t do handshakes or hugs very well.

“I prefer not to talk because sometime I get the questions mixed up.”

Welding has proved to be calming and a confidence booster.

“Welding has let me come into a place that I really like to be, which is building things and following instructions,” said Slapman.

“I am good with my hands and with planning sheets, but at social skills I am not as advanced as others. That’s why I like being here. I am sent to a booth, left alone and can complete the assignment.”

Slapman listens to instructions thoroughly, as Comp welding instructor Virgil Green found out. However, in one class, Slapman didn’t quite understand Green’s humour.

A truckload of copper was parked near the school shop and Green sarcastically told the class to remove the copper as part of clean up.

“That is one more thing about autism, I will take most things literally,” Slapman said. “I don’t know the jokes or irony. I ended up cleaning up the copper and I thought the rest of the class was being lazy.”

The truck owner wasn’t amused to see someone taking the valuable copper and Green had some explaining to do.

“I made a joke to the class, so he spent some of the class taking the copper,” Green said. “It was totally my fault. A good lesson for me to realize that Kieran takes everything I say [seriously]. It’s also helped me keep my sarcasm in check.”

Green had some learning to do and got some help from his wife, Percy Pegler teacher Sheroma Green, who has more experience with students on the autistic spectrum.

“My wife fortunately is incredibly intelligent on the subject — she is way smarter than I am,” Virgil said. “But I learn from Kieran… his enthusiasm towards my program and his drive. He doesn’t waste any time socializing. He is the most efficient student I have — straight to work, very analytical — A-B-C procedures, all great stuff for the welding world.

“It’s been awesome to see Kieran’s impact on the entire shop. He’s a good lesson for all of us that we shouldn’t be underestimating autistic students.”

Slapman echoed those thoughts.

“You can never take the weird guy in the group (for granted),” Slapman said. “Just because he is standing in the corner doesn’t mean he doesn’t possess great skills. Superman hid out in a shed one time, but he was always the best hero in the book.”

Green also noted that Slapman has become more involved, joking with the students, socializing, rather than being the loner he was when he entered the welding program.

Travis Burnell, a Grade 12 student, has been part of Slapman’s welding class the past two years.

“He’s a hard worker,” Burnell said. “He learns well and he’s a good worker — he had to qualify for skills.”

The fact he earned a spot on the welding team meant a lot to Slapman.

“I haven’t really succeeded (in competitions),” Slapman said. “I went to Alberta Games (BMX) because they needed a spot. I earned going (to skills.) Going there for me was a big explosion.”

As for the future, Slapman, who is looking for an apprenticeship, may follow in some familiar welding boots.

“I plan to head off into the trades, mechanic, autobody, welding,…” Slapman said. “Realistically, I would like to come back and take Green’s spot.”

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