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My head pivoted when I heard laughter through the walls of my class. I looked around, only to land my gaze on a group of boys who were teasing this freshman who had autism. All that boy wanted is to fit in, however, because of the way he acts and communicates, he was being treated as an outsider. This opened my perspective as I became aware of the challenges people with autism encounter daily. I realized that people with autism are often misunderstood as many-including adults, fail to understand what the disorder truly is. With the lack of information, I realized that people would still have common misconceptions which would still lead to isolation. To foster a more inclusive environment, I decided to create an organization with my friend. In this organization, not only do we advocate and promote awareness but also make resources for young kids who have autism. Our goal is to create an environment where autism is understood, where it is not to be seen as an obstacle, but just a different approach on life. Today, our social media has more followers, where we post daily on facts about autism, to engage and educate our audiences. We hold peer support groups where anyone, including parents, teachers, and students can join in to learn and ask any questions that they might have, which are all answered by professionals. Not to mention, recently, we published a book that is tailored towards young children to help them understand how their peers who have autism feel. I believe that educating people at a younger age will bring forth inclusivity, allowing future generations to embrace neurodiversity.
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