Autistic Speaking Day

Written by Kother Al-Hasan. Edited by Hayat Issa

On November 1st, autistic individuals will have a chance to make their voices heard. One particular voice comes from a Central Academy student, Ahmed Al-Hasan, my brother.

So, what is autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life.” There are a lot of misconceptions regarding what autism actually is. According to Ahmed Al-Hasan, “some people think we’re dumber than other people, but we just think differently”. Autistic individuals are also not lesser than neurotypical people, they simply just develop and think differently. Autistic people are not only defined by their autism, there’s so much more to them.

Autistic individuals are also not lesser than neurotypical people, they simply just develop and think differently. It is important to have an understanding of people who are different from us. Take the time to research and learn about individuals with Autism, they’re some of the most amazing people.

“Everybody deserves a voice, including people with disabilities”