Central's Delancey Burwell Has Come Far Since Autism Diagnosis

OCEAN GATE, NJ - When Delancey Burwell was a toddler, the verbal little boy gradually stopped speaking. His parents realized something was wrong. Delancy was soon diagnosed with autism.

But the little boy could sing. He sang commercials and jingles he heard on the radio.

"He is phenomenal," his mother Lynda Spann said. "It's a gift."

Fast forward more than 20 years. Boy, can Delancey sing. Check out one of his youtube videos.

The 24-year-old Ocean Gate resident and former Central Regional High School student will sing the National Anthem and "God Bless America" tonight at the Special Olympics at The College of New Jersey.

His mother credits his amazing progress to the early intervention her son received in preschool. He joined the chorus when he got to Central Regional. Delancey "aged out" of Central several years ago, but never stopped singing.

"He's such a mild-mannered young man," his mother says. "He doesn't have a defiant bone in his body."

Delancey stays involved with the Special Olympics, where he has competed in the long jump, the softball team and the 50-meter run.

Right now, the young man works at Walmart in Lacey Township. But his family hopes to find another venue where he can sing, Lynda Spann said.

Photo: Courtesy of Lynda Spann, video courtesy of youtube.