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Canfield quintuplet William Hudock represents more than just his school
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CANFIELD
William Hudock, a 14-year-old eighth-grade Canfield Village Middle School student and a quintuplet, is participating in his first Vindicator Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday.
This appearance, however, isn’t what’s special about William’s upcoming experience. It’s the message he’s sending.
“There are no boundaries for kids with autism,” said William’s father, Anthony Hudock.
William and his four siblings – Olivia, Samantha, Andrew and Chloe – were born July 30, 2002, to Anthony and Leslie Hudock at just 26 weeks gestation.
Now, 14 years later, William, who is autistic, will be representing Canfield schools and students with disabilities everywhere as the first autistic student to participate in the Vindicator bee.
William is surprised he got this far.
“I’ve never been in something this big before,” he said.
His goal is to at least make it into the top five, competing in the last round of the 84th Vindicator bee.
Although William is an A-B student in school, he said language arts is not one of his strong suits, but a weakness.
“It’s irony,” he said simply.
Anthony said he agreed to his son’s participating in the spelling bee because William needed to know “even though he has a disability he can still accomplish a goal.”
William “needs to understand kids such as him, with autism and special needs, can exceed in a typical environment and be successful,” he said. “He’s learning he can try things and doesn’t have to be afraid.”
When asked what his advice would be to other students with disabilities thinking about participating in something like the spelling bee, William said: “Don’t think you can’t do it – believe [you can] deep down in your heart. If you believe enough you can do this, you can succeed in this. And if you don’t, just keep trying again and again until you get it.”
Anthony’s smile is a tell-all sign of his pride in his son.
“Every goal we’ve ever set for William, he has accomplished,” he said. “He just never gives up. ... This boy is just my hero.”