What is autism?
According to the clinical model Autism is “a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people and the world around them.” Approximately 135,000 people in Ontario have Autism. Some things that having Autism affects is the ability to communicate thoroughly, interactions with others, and sensory processing abilities.
However, not all people with Autism have the same experience. Every person functions differently, creating a ‘spectrum’ of different experiences and needs.
Me and my family’s experience
My older brother was diagnosed with Autism when he was four years old, and I was recently diagnosed just before I turned 15. Since then, I have gone to school and personally heard all of the negative assumptions about people with Autism. I have organized many different events at my past elementary school to raise money for those with autism and have tried my best to spread more awareness. Unfortunately, I have found that raising money, though it helps those with autism, does not always make people more aware. So I wanted to create a way to have people truly understand by having them really experience it.
Through the Believe Leadership Course, I came up with this project, The Autism CARE Experience.