It happens everyday right? An individual with Autism is called "weird." One six-year-old girl heard her brother called this and quickly told her classmate she was wrong, that her brother wasn't weird, he was Autistic, but her classmate didn't know what that meant.
Then she wrote a letter that her mother posted on social media that said, "I would like it if we could learn about all disabilities in schools so that everybody understands that some people are different." I wholeheartedly agree with this young wise soul, just a little understanding goes a long way, that's all her classmate was missing. No one had ever told her about Autism or why an individuals with Autism might act differently than her, so the only thing she could think to explain this difference, was, well, "weird."
That's why there are resources gathered on this website for teachers to help students understand Autism better so that we can help knock out as many harsh names as possible and replace them with greater understanding and acceptance of students with Autisms' unique capabilities. Visit the Classroom Shift section of our website for more information.
To read the full story about this brave little girl, visit the New York Daily News article here.