A testimonial from Dylan’s mother, Roz Weiss:

Dillon started at Tiger Schulmann’s three years ago. We started because I wanted him to learn how to focus better, build his self confidence and also for him to be in a safe place with typical kids who wouldn’t make fun of him because of his disability. (He has PDD-NOS which is a mild form of Autism.) He started by taking private lessons and as time went on and progress was made, he mainstreamed into the core class and then went on to kickboxing and grappling.

Sensei Zapfel and Spencer Dietz have been working very closely with Dillon over the past three years. Spencer works with Dillon privately one day a week to help him with his skills and is also teaching him the importance of focusing and listening in order to do well. With someone like Dillon positive reinforcement is very important and that is exactly what he is getting from Sensei and Spencer. This positive reinforcement is helping Dillon develop into a strong person.

Dillon is a new person thanks to everyone at Tiger Schulmann’s. He is not only more social but he is also more focused in school. Attending the Karate Mini-Camp program that was offered throughout the year has helped him a lot with his social development. He is able to participate in other after school activities due to the social development that Tiger Schulmann’s has helped him achieve. In school, he was able to make it out of the multiple disability classroom and into a self contained classroom. He’s maintaining a B average with an occasional C and A grades. Next year they will try to mainstream him for a class or two.

His learning is a slow process but everyone is so patient with him. They all want to see him succeed and he will. It may take a long time but the one thing that I always tell Dillon is that once you start something, you don’t quit until you reach the top and the top here is earning your black belt. It doesn’t matter if it takes one year or twenty years, the most important thing you need to do it stick with it and do your best; this is how you succeed in life. I let him know that he should never let his disability get in his way of accomplishing any dreamed that he has and that he should never let anyone tell him that he can’t do something because of his disability. All it takes is finding the right people who have the dedication and the patience to help you succeed. This is what we found at Tiger Schulmann’s Wayne School.

Sincerely,
Roz Weiss
TSMMA Wayne

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