The Missing Peace

ts, but instead many classrooms have been a breeding ground for negative social situations and Bullying. It seems as though our youth are not willing to show special needs students compassion. My brother is very intelligent and has a different way of interpreting the world. Therefore, he is socially awkward in the eyes of most nuero-typical children and has been a victim of bullying all his life. We have changed schools several times, and have tried to protect my brother from all the individuals that would victimize him. Our family has learned that the problem isn’t coming from just one individual or school population, it is caused by a misunderstanding that children with Autism have social issues and are socially awkward and don’t know how to create normal relationships or even a casual friendship. This is attributed to the fact that many people, students and teachers alike, and many of the school's staff and parents are unaware of the signs and symptoms of Autism. They develop the common opinion that these individuals are destined to become the class clowns, loners or losers. They often assume it is due to a poor upbringing, poor parenting and bad behavior. After watching my trusting brother fall victim to physical and emotional abuse, I wanted to find a way to raise Autism Awareness and most importantly create an environment that had compassion and companionship within our public school systems. I am spending my time creating a School Friendship Group called The Missing Peace. I hope to close the social gaps and minimize the everyday misunderstandings that plague the school’s hallways and lunchrooms by finding compassionately aware peers that are willing to create a social network within the school’s community. By creating a friendship group or club of peer counselors, staff, and mature neuro-typical students whom excel both socially and academically we can offer other students that have ASD a better social life. I want to find students that are mature enough to be capable of understanding that these individuals may look like neuro-typical kids but do actually have a disability that is sometimes not recognized in social gatherings. In general these individuals with Autism struggle with difficulties in communication, behavior and social interaction. They have anxiety and miss out on the great opportunities that social events create for the student population. They often are not capable of establishing or reciprocating friendships or relationships strong enough to withstand these misunderstandings or Autistic meltdowns at social events with peers that are unaware of Autism's signs and symptoms. By Mentoring the strong neuro-typical students, teaching them to be compassionate mentors themselves, we can make change in this world that turns this into an ability rather than a disability. They will stand up for their friends with Autism and institute a "safe-space" to enhance the lives of the people with ASD. A club that creates social opportunities such as lunch parties in the lunch room, after school social events like swimming parties at the recreation centers, shoot some hoops with the basketball team, or spend an afternoon cheering for the volleyball team. We can create a computer / video gaming club and other STEM related groups and field trips these kids are interested in pursuing. We need to create “dating” groups, like movie going friendship groups, restaurant touring friendship groups, and inclusion to Prom and Homecoming groups that would add to the quality of life to individuals with Autism. Having the school staff or peer counselors initiate a safe group at sporting events with the team members and Cheerleaders so Autistic kids can sit by others and participate actively in the audience. I believe that as we create these events, staff and students alike will come to recognize the individuals that are socially awkward and extend a "high five" or just show the common courtesy of the recognition of their existence by saying "hi". This creates a way to help them connect to others and offers a better quality of life for children affected with Autism. This can establish a healthier, zero tolerance policy for bullying within the student body instead of the ignoring negative bullying events or derogatory remarks that occur today. We need to create compassion for diversity in all students, we need to break down the social barriers and create a community of acceptance. As a reward for these exemplary actions these students will earn something valuable in their education. In Colorado, in order to graduate, a student must accumulate 20 hours of community service. I plan to meet with various Principals, and school staff to make this a viable way for students to spread Autism Awareness and earn their community service hours as a valuable way to give back to the individuals willing to lend their compassionate friendship and valuable time. I also plan to meet with Autism Speaks and the Autism Society of Colorado, to learn of better ways to spread the awareness and directly impact Jr. High and High School students affected with Autism. Just because Autistic people struggle with social issues shouldn’t mean that they are destined to live a lonely life. We need to create an environment that accepts them and offers them companionship. These associations have logos that use the symbol of a single jigsaw puzzle piece that is separated or isolated from the main assembled puzzle to symbolize the disconnection and mysteries surrounding Autism. While we don’t know the causes of Autism, we know the barriers it creates. We do know that individuals affected by autism are isolated within their own world. They are isolated within the way their brains interpret the world around them. Their brain's physiology causes them to function differently than most, and the way they react to the rest of the world creates a disconnection to feeling and emotion. This is a huge piece of life that the rest of us may find easy to find but take for granted. I plan to help them find the missing “peace”! Until all the pieces fit...