AUTISM AWARENESS

See the person standing next to you in the cafeteria line? There is a 1 in 44 chance that they are on the autism spectrum. They look just like you but don’t always act like you, at least not all the time. There lies the hidden disease that surfaces from really the depths of your brain and makes people stare, befuddled by your eccentric behavior. This person is me because I have an autism spectrum disorder. I long for you to open your minds to understand and support me rather than casting menacing stares and avoiding me. I believe the way to bridge this great divide is to start an autism awareness program at our school.

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To begin with, initiating this awareness can be a great way to break down the pervasive stereotypes that exist around individuals who have autism. These beliefs have unfortunately come to define what people think is the essence of autism; these misguided beliefs need to change. When querying Rebecca Ramacher, the autism dean at my school, on the presence of autism acceptance programs at Mounds View High School she wrote, “I am sad to say that MVHS does not have any programs promoting autism awareness.” I personally belong to a small program called Best Buddies at my school which pairs students with disabilities with neurotypical peers. While I enjoy the personal interaction, I don’t feel that it will change the school culture due to its limited scope of the twenty or so normal students who participate. We need to think bigger. There are many ways to accomplish this renewed understanding of what autism truly is, from hanging informative posters around the school, to reading books on someone who has autism to gain an insider’s perspective on what life is like. The overarching goal is to create empathy and acceptance.

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Besides this theme of good will, there is another great reason to support this awareness: bullying. There are many different forms that autism can take in an individual and understanding those sometimes subtle or not so subtle differences can make a world of confusing behavior more clear. This realization can stimulate thoughtful conversation and introspection about being human. The sad fact is that bullying is a daily occurrence for many on the autism spectrum. “34% of children on the autism spectrum say the worst thing about being at school is being picked on,” reports I-am-autism.org, an organization founded over fifty years ago to support older children with autism and their families. While I have never been bullied personally, it troubles me deeply to hear the terrible stories of those who are. I already deal with significant anxiety at baseline and the additional stress of bullying would certainly be more than I could handle. I would probably not be able to attend class in person. Ending this tortuous cycle of hate starts with empathy and understanding brought forth though awareness.

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Why should you care if someone with autism is being picked on, and why should we try to stop it? Well besides just good common decency and human compassion, the person with autism who isn’t being picked on will very likely be less anxious and will perform better at school both academically and emotionally. Helping the often-emotional child perform and feel their best should really be a priority for anyone who values providing essentially an excellent education for all. If that were your sibling or child, wouldn’t you demand it?

 

So, what are the arguments against promoting autism awareness in schools? You certainly could counter with the excellent retort that kids are already bombarded by the a-word and essentially will tune any further information out. Also, students’ schedules and teachers’ curricula are already crammed full and there isn’t any room to add in optional material. My argument debating these conjectures is that a little kindness goes a long way. If teachers or students are touched even a little bit by hearing a presentation or reading a book on autism,

then progress has been made. If the stories are presented in an intriguing and emotionally moving way, then people will listen and be receptive to learning more. Over the years, empathy and kindness will grow and the culture towards students with autism will change. The time devoted to these endeavors will be well worth the minor inconveniences to students’ and teachers’ schedules. How many hours does a busy teen spend on their phone every day that could be spent more productively learning to appreciate and support those who are different? Of course, there is time! There is always more idle time than they are aware of. These are the moments we seize and make the most of. Seize the day! The time to act is now as we focus our attention on mental health in our schools and support for all such states of chemical imbalances.

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While I will never be a normal teenager, being accepted for my flaws and disease is still entirely possible in this modern day and age. Festering in isolation does not appeal to me, and I believe that everyone deserves a chance for happiness and empathy. I hope to someday soon to take on this particular battle at our school by forming an Autism Awareness program, and I pray you will support me and others on the autism spectrum. Please join me, my fellow teachers and students, to work together and make our school a more inclusive and supportive place for all.

 

--Shaun Canas, age 16

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Sources:

Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorders, https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

Email communication with Rebeccca Ramacher, 12/21/2021

Bowles, N., Autism Awareness|Schools, March 29, 2021, https://i-am-autism.org.uk/autism-awareness-in-schools/