April is Autism Awareness Month... and all month long we've been highlighting how the disorder is touching families in our area.

When a child is diagnosed with Autism, some may focus on the things they won't be able to do.

But one a Boy Scout Troop is opening up a world of possibilities to these boys.

"When they put on their uniform, their whole attitude changes big smiles they are happy they know what's going to happen they are going to their meeting," says Scout Master Dennis Dzwonkowski.

Decked out in blue or brown, about a dozen Wausau Area boys gather to do traditional boy stuff.

They are a part of Boy Scout Troop 480 which was created specifically for boys with special needs.

Each boy who becomes a Scout Pledges "to do their best" and that's exactly what their Cub Master Rick Radloff expects.

"We specifically focus on what they can do. The world is going to focus on what they can't do. But we're going to make sure the kids are successful at everything they do so they build their self esteem go out in the world and say yeah I did this," says Radloff.

As a former Boy Scout, Radloff helped create the troop in 2008 so he could share his love of scouting with his sons.

One has Autism and the other has severe ADHD.

The pace of the activities is a bit slower but that doesn't keep these boys from doing a lot..." We've gone to summer camp, spent the week in Rhinelander, we've gone bowling, rang bells for the salvation army...," says Dzwonkowski.

And the list goes on.

These boys are already soaring past expectations and their Scout Master hopes they will make it to Eagle Scouts--- the highest rank you can reach in the Boy Scout Program.

He says their troop received special permission from the boy scouts council of America to allow the boys to earn merit badges at their own pace.

"Everything a normal troop is doing we are also doing and the boys are enjoying it, fantastically they can't get enough of it. "

Socializing can be a challenge for some children with Autism... but these scouts are learning life lessons and making lifetime friends, using their own language of hugs and high fives.

Troop 4-80 meets on Sundays at Saint Andrew Lutheran Church at 3p.m. in Rib Mountain.

For more information contact the Samoset Council of Boy Scouts of America.

The link is listed below.