Autistic Teen Becomes Fire Department Explorer

Friday was a big day for McCallister Taylor, a junior at Muir High who wants to be a firefighter: he rode along with the Pasadena Fire Department on calls Friday for the first time ever.

Taylor has been training in the department's Explorers program for the last three years: the program helps train youth with an interest in becoming firefighters.

Kimberly Taylor, McCallister's mother, says she believes he is the first autistic youth to complete the program.

However, she said, that does not mean that McCallister's autism posed a major obstacle to completing the program.  On the contrary, she believes at times it was an asset.

"The program really worked for him because it is so regimented and structured," Taylor said, describing qualities that her son thrives on.

A lot of the training was rigorous, involving runs, long bike rides, and climbing exercises.  But it was worth it for McCallister, Kimberly said, as he hopes it will be part of his long-term plans.

"He's wanted to be a firefighter since he was three or four years old," Kimberly said.

She said her son is strongly considering continuining to train as a firefighter and attend a local academy and making a career out of it.

McCallister is part of the special education program at Muir, which Kimberly praises as the best in the Pasadena Unified School District. 

She noted that while many people don't fully understand autism, or don't what to make of autistic children, autistic kids are not locked away behind closed doors when they are not in school.

"Our autistic kids are out there doing things."