Autism awareness at A&M

Post Reply New Topic

Averi Fister, a graduate of the Postsecondary Access and Training in Human Services (PATHS) Program at Texas A&M was one of those children.

Fister, who has Asperger syndrome, said obstacles were presented due to her disability that she had to overcome at a young age.

"I have Aspergers, it got miscategorized as ADHD for a while but it is on the autism spectrum," Fister said. "Because of this I was moved to other classes… I was in behavioral problem classes where they shoved other kids who had behavioral issues and that really stunted me a lot when I was a kid. It caused a lot of problems that I've had to overcome."

Fister noted that this scenario is common for many students with disabilities, and said that an increase in awareness would lead to an increase in understanding.

"I think that Autism as a whole—the whole spectrum—is still fairly misunderstood and awareness for something is never a bad thing," Fister said.

Jeni Ganz, professor of special education and educational psychology, has been working with students with special needs since 1996 and said that in her experience and research she has seen behavior that contradicts common misconceptions.

”Because it’s primarily a social communication disorder people often think that individuals with autism are not affectionate or loving and that is not true," Ganz s

Fister said that one of the take-aways that she hopes students gain is noting that each person on the spectrum has their own valid struggles.

"Something that somebody tells me a lot is 'Oh you're so high-functioning I almost don't think you're autistic.' When inside it feels like I am keeping a dingy together with duct tape and a single oar. It's a lot of work keeping yourself together, so understand what people are going through," Fister said. "I would let [students on the spectrum] know that it's fine. You're not busted. There is nothing wrong with you. You don't need to be fixed at all."