DEAR EDITOR:

Students with autism are more likely to be bullied or taken advantage of by both classmates and even teachers.

Studies from the Autism Speaks Organization have proven that 60% of people with autism will experience it.

I’ve seen it happen throughout my years in school, and I’ve been judged for standing up for others.

My younger brother, Konnor, is autistic and nonverbal. Because of him, defending people who need support has become second nature to me.

I used to sit with him at lunch to make sure he ate his food, watch from a distance to make sure he got to class, and stay behind to help out in his classroom.

My family and I have always been as hands-on as possible when it comes to helping him, but school beyond high school has always been a concern.

Konnor and I are technically in the same grade, but I’m just a few months older, so it was easy for me to be nearby if something happened.

His teachers even knew they could reach me on campus in case of an emergency.

But now that I’m at LMC, this is the first time I’ve been in a different school from him. I can’t just walk down the hall to check in on him anymore. This change has made me think more deeply about how colleges support students with autism.

At LMC, we need to make sure that neurodiverse students, whether verbal or nonverbal, diagnosed or undiagnosed, are seen and respected.

That means offering real autism awareness, not just a flyer during April, which is Autism Awareness Month, and I wonder how many people on campus even knew that.

There should be more visibility, campus-wide, and events that make neurodiverse students feel welcomed.

Adults with autism are often misunderstood or misrepresented. But small, thoughtful changes can make a big difference.

Not just for students with autism, but for families like mine, who are always hoping the world will see their loved ones also be included. Everyone deserves to feel human and supported in their education.