Written by: TFVstaff • July 22, 2019• In Our Schools

The Truth About ASD

Having autism doesn’t make a person “dumb” or “weird,” which is a common misconception in society. This, to me, the sister of a child under the autism spectrum and the rest of the ASD community, is highly offensive. I have seen many acts of ignorance towards the ASD community in my own community, and that is why I feel that I must advocate and spread awareness on this very important topic so that my brother, and every other individual under the spectrum, feels accepted and a part of an educated society.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a very complex neurological disorder, found most commonly in males, to which most people are oblivious or ignorant. ASD is, in fact, a spectrum; it is usually divided into two main categories: low and high functioning. Due to this, there are a plethora of forms autism may take. For example, low-functioning people with autism may face more severe speech delays, lack of social and/or motor skills, and other disabilities than high-functioning individuals. This goes to show that although all individuals under the autism spectrum do have autism, each one faces a different set of challenges. This makes each person completely unique, just like my brother Gabriel.

Gabriel plays such a special role in my life. Being my brother is the least special part about him; there is so much more to him than that. He is extremely funny, he makes everyone laugh to the point where they can’t breathe. He is sweet and has a way of making anyone feel better when they’re down. He is intelligent, he knows every street name of every neighborhood of every city in the state of Florida. And last but not least, he has autism, and that makes him the most amazing kind-hearted soul in the world.

It breaks my heart to see how complicated everyday tasks are to him. My parents and I are always looking for ways to make his life just a little bit easier, and the one way I know I can contribute is by advocating for him and educating others, so that he, along with other people under the spectrum, are accepted for who they are by an informed society.

Take a look: the word “autistic” has not been used throughout my article to refer to a person with autism. Preventing ignorant and offensive use of the word is just one aspect of my campaign to inform and educate others. People under the spectrum have it hard enough, the least we can do is understand what having autism truly means, and lovingly accepting those with ASD. After all, as Dr. Temple Grandin once said, “…different, not less.”

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