When explicitly asked "What is the worst thing about having autism?" Higashida replies that he always feels so miserable not being able to function like those around him. He says, "Whenever we've done something wrong, we get told off or laughed at, without even being able to apologize, and we end up hating ourselves and despairing about our own lives, again and again and again" this really had me thinking about what non-autistic people can do eliminate the self hatred people with autism feel due to lack of understanding by others. Higashida shows us that the first step is simply educating ourselves, and as he says, not giving up on them.

This led me to wondering: How can non-autistic people create an environment that allows people with autism to reach their full potential and why is it so vital that we do so? Higashida shows us that it starts with simply educating ourselves. The reason that this book is so uniquely useful in answering my question is due to the fact that it is written by an individual with autism who can give us a first hand perspective on the work we must do to make the world a more accessible place. Through Higashida's work, I can begin to understand what he and other people with autism need from us, ideally allowing me to dive into why it's so important we give them opportunities to thrive and how it benefits all of us.

Lowry echos what Higashida implies in "The Reason I Jump", creating an environment that allows autistic people to thrive must begin with non-autistic people educating themselves on the experiences of actual autistic people. Lowry describes that he has seen autism diagnoses been denied just because a person was able to make eye contact with an evaluator, he says he has heard someone say that evaluators must "wear down" their clients to force them to unmask. He says he has even been asked how he has a son, when a person, who was also a doctor, thought autistic people could not biologically reproduce. This leads me to the understanding that before people can attempt to break their stereotypes or open their minds, they must understand what it actually means to be autistic.

Lowry also says a neurotypical person diagnosing autism is like "describing the experience of a bear when you've never been a bear". This perspective helps me further understand the importance of us educating ourselves on why autistic people themselves should take the wheel on aspects of their own identities.

As I have previously learned, the first step to creating a more inclusive society for those with autism is education, making sure we understand what autism IS. Owen's parents, Cornelia and Ron, and his older brother, Walter, are very loving and dedicated to Owen. They know that his autism changes his life but does not RUIN his life, they are very well educated. They, along with Owen, helped me understand what we must do after we are educated on autism, adapt to the way autistic people learn and encourage the unique things they may do to understand the world.

For Owen, that unique thing is Disney movies. When Owen first spoke after years of silence, he very intelligently and clearly said, "Walter is sad to grow up just like Peter Pan." His family was amazed that he had these articulate thoughts given that he had showed very little understanding of the world around him in years. They realized the Disney movies were the catalyst for this change, he was using them to teach himself about the world. His parents took the step of implementing this way of learning into his life, leading him to become a very emotionally intelligent person, and even writing a story about his struggles with bullying, "The Land of the Sidekicks". Owen learned independence through The Lion King, perseverance through Hercules, and coping with loneliness through The Jungle Book. Owen's style of learning does not make him incapable, it does not make it impossible, it just requires flexibility on our part, leading to my conclusion that the second step of creating an environment that allows people with autism to thrive is adaptation and encouragement from us.

I really appreciate this poem because it is a great starting point for me to begin thinking about the second part of my question: Why is it so vital that we create an environment that allows people with autism to reach their full potential? The author’s answer to this question is both heartbreaking and powerful, “I was too young to bare the weight of wanting to die”. This takes on a more serious meaning to the idea of reaching one’s full potential, speaking on the pain of being trapped in a world that does not care to acknowledge your unique needs. The fact is, autistic people are 7 times more likely to die by suicide. This is a devastating statistic and with no doubt emphasizes the vitality of creating an environment that guarantees safety and high quality of life for those with autism.

This raises numerous questions for me, likely helping me continue my research. I wonder if correlations between autism and mental illness doesn't stop at suicidal thoughts. Could unhealthy coping skills such as self-harm, substance abuse, and dangerous behaviors also increase in those with autism who feel unsupported or alone? This poem inspires me to look into those topics next.

So far, in terms of the first part of my question, I’ve focused on larger ways to support the autistic community, such as self-education and adapting to the needs of autistic people. This video helped me zoom in on the more simple steps we can take to be allies. Seemingly small comments we may make, such as telling people they “don’t look autistic” or "everyone is autistic nowadays" may harm those with autism, even when it is not our intent to do so. 

A key element Micallef focuses on are comments such as “other people have it worse”, I really appreciated the analogy he used, “the fact that there are people in the world who have desperate need for water does not mean I don’t need water to survive”. Yes, other people do have it worse, and yes the struggles of some are greater than the struggles of others, but that in no way dismisses each person's individual struggles.

I really like the way this video relates to the first part of my question because it highlights simple things we can do in our daily lives, changing our language or refraining from comments that may be harmful. One does not need higher level education or even have to know exactly what autism IS to shift small parts of their language and possibly make a big difference in the way people with autism feel about themselves and those around them.

Those who are bullied have greater risk for higher levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, and lower levels of academic performance, and school commitment. I chose an article on autism and bullying specifically to relate to the second part of my question, exploring the importance of allowing people with autism to thrive. If people with autism are not given the best chance possible to reach their full potential, including being around people who are educated on what they need, adaptation by those around them, and correct language that builds them up rather than tears them down. They face the risks that come with bullying, decreasing quality of life.

Thinking back to the poem, "Lack of a Manual", mentioning thoughts of wanting to die, I was inspired to also look at suicidality and bullying, thinking they may overlap in those with autism. Through this second study I learned that adolescents who are bullied are 8.4 times more likely to experience suicidal ideation. Given the already high suicide rates in those with autism, the added mental health danger with bullying puts further emphasis on the importance of creating an environment that supports those with autism. If not to ensure quality of life, than just to ensure continuation of life.

I really appreciate the way this interview relates to the second part of my question, asking why it is important to help those with autism. Thunberg is a great example of what people with autism can achieve when they are able to use their strengths positively. In the interview, Thunberg says being neurodiverse "...makes you different, makes you think differently, and in such a big crisis like this we need to think outside the box, we need to think outside our current system, we need people who think outside the box and aren't like everyone else." So often, thinking "differently" is seen as a roadblock to success, and yes, autism is called a disability because it CAN make certain aspects of life harder, but I think we so often forget the strengths people with autism have that neurotypical people may not be able to understand.

Greta Thunberg is now a household name in many places, she was able to become extremely successful when she was just a teenager because of her ability to come at the cause she believes in from a different point of view. She also attributes the fact that she is unafraid to speak up to her autism, saying she doesn't "...really care about social codes".

By having the opportunity to exist in an environment where she is able to use her disability to her advantage and adapt to her "different" thinking, she is able to make the world a better place. Thunberg shows the potential those with autism possess when they have what they need to thrive, and that the results of doing so can change the world.

I would like to focus on the "superpowers" section of the article to relate back to the second part of my question, diving into the importance of giving people with autism an equal opportunity to thrive. When people hear the world autism, they often fail to realize the positives that may come with it. By giving people with autism what they need to succeed, we invite more unique individuals to be dreamers. We create people who may have an incredibly elevated awareness of the world around them, the ability to work hard and continue to thrive over long periods of time, and possible masters in certain crafts, such as a person with savant syndrome or hyperfixations.

So after this, when I ask myself: Why is it so vital that we create an environment that allows people with autism to reach their full potential? I am able to recognize that people with autism make the world of better place, they are thinkers, creators, and innovators, Greta Thunberg being a great example of all of these. By giving them an opportunity to thrive we are welcoming so much intelligence and creativity into the world.