Eighth grade. I remember riding the bus to school and meeting Rachel, an Autistic classmate who fiercely wanted to protest. She was drawn to the passion and fervor of marching, shouting, and standing for a cause after seeing a rally at the Wisconsin Capitol on the news. Her parents wanted to support her so instead of vote Republican or Democrat, they helped her create placards that read Brush Your Teeth! Wash Your Hands! and Buckle Your Seatbelt! which she would use protesting around the neighborhood. I remember hearing this and thinking, what a cool response from her parents. They saw her desire and matched it with an outlet that neighbors could see and support, as they knew Rachel was different. Hearing of the caring, creativity, and kindness of her parents taught me the importance of respect no matter one's traits or looks. I think of this when reflecting on my career and my path in life so far.
In the early 1990's, we would watch TV as a family, and between Marty Stouffer's Wild America and our VHS copy of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, we watched a sitcom called Life Goes On. The show centered around the trials and tribulations of Corky, a teen with Down Syndrome. His parents and sister helped in his journey through high school, the social scene of adolescence, and the dilemma of finding your identity when growing up. We watched this show each week and it mirrored what any family goes through albeit with the twist of keeping up with your peers while having Down Syndrome. The show was a break from the typical sitcom, and for me it was part of growing more aware and accepting of Neurodiverse kids and their strengths and abilities.
For some reason, these two parts of my childhood resonate with me, and I'm thankful that the stigma of Autism, Down Syndrome, and being Neurodiverse is changing. The visibility of differently-abled people is pushing us towards more kindness and caring. Let's keep it up!
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