What’s in April, has the symbol of a puzzle piece and bears the official color of royal blue?
Â
Autism Awareness month!
Â
This month is a great time to reflect on those in our lives on the Autism spectrum and to remember to be inclusive. A wonderful website that helped me be more understanding and supportive of the Autistic population was Special Books by Special Kids. If you haven’t ‘liked’ the Facebook page yet, you really should! The page is run by one Christopher Ulmer and depicts his experience as a Special Education teacher through videos.
  Â
Unassuming, long-haired and modest, you wouldn’t automatically peg him for one of the most influential voices for the Special Needs population today, but he is! He regularly posts videos of himself interacting with his students and showing that they are just like regular kids – only with slightly different mindsets. And that’s okay! As someone with an Autistic family member, I know firsthand how gifted and able to compete with other kids they are. I admire their strength to exist within a population that, on the whole, refuses to try to understand them.
  Â
The best part about the website, in my opinion, is the videos of real Special Needs sharing the behind-the-scenes reality of their conditions. Heartbreakingly honest and inspiring, these clips depict the interviewees’ hopes and dreams – everything from becoming an astronaut to a sanitation worker. A young boy named Cameron expressed his dream for wars to cease. A woman named Katherine shared that she could understand everything people said about her.
  Â
The love and compassion evident in these kids is amazing- if one takes the time to attempt understanding of those on the Autism spectrum and with special needs. In our world, we seem to automatically shy away from anything that is different than us. This should not be the case. There are plenty of bright, intelligent and beautiful people that are disregarded because of their differences. Please take time this month to ‘like’ Special Books by Special Kids and watch a few of these inspiring tales. I guarantee you will come away with a more open heart and informed mind.
  Â
So what else can we do? While college students don’t exactly have the budget to donate a significant amount of money to the Autism Society, what you can do is register for a 5k! There is a 5k coming up in Greenville on the 30th of April, and a walk for you non-runners (like me). It’s $25 for the 5k and $15 for the walk. It’s a great way to get some exercise or maybe even have a goal distance to train for. Alpha Xi Delta is also holding a BBQ at their house on East 11th on April 19th from 5-8 pm. It is $5 from a sister prior to the event and $7 at the door! All proceeds go to Autism Speaks. Our local Autism organization, Aces For Autism, is hold a fundraiser at Wine and Design on April 28th 35% of each sale will be donated to Aces For Autism of Greenville NC! Tickets are available at www.wineanddesign.com and the cost is 40$.
  Â
But… Real talk. If you can’t afford to contribute anything monetarily, another wonderful way to show your support is just being accepting. If you see an individual who you presume has special needs of some sort, join me in making an effort to include them as a wonderful part of our society. Everyone is human, and every single human is equally important. Thank you, Special Books by Special Kids, for helping people see that more clearly!