Haylee Roupe, Trinity senior, hopes to move to Hollywood a few years after she graduates. Jonathan Gajan, also a senior, isn’t yet sure what job he plans to get after high school but knows he will miss working in the Hiller Cafe.
Gym is Gajan’s favorite class during the school day, and Roupe is very excited to show off her new black dress at this year’s prom.
Roupe and Gajan are both students in Trinity High School’s autistic support classroom.
Autism is a disorder experienced by millions across the globe. People with autism have a brain that functions differently than neurotypical individuals, those without autism. People with autism may have difficulty navigating social situations or may be sensitive to particular sensory inputs like strong smells or bright lights.
Autism is commonly referred to as a spectrum disorder, meaning there is a wide range of ways it can be expressed. Some people with autism may benefit from assistance with some daily tasks or support in the classroom, while others don’t require additional help.
Junior Kody Kress, for example, occasionally needs a helping hand with his math assignments but thrives in science class and in his cooking classes at WACTC.
This condition is not a disease, and has no need or ability to be cured. Mrs. JoMarie Giorgi, Trinity High School’s autistic support teacher, says the students in her class really aren’t that different from the district’s other students. Everyone is different, she says, and everyone has particular interests and proclivities.
“These kids just happen to have it labeled,” Giorgi says.
April is nationally recognized as Autism Awareness Month. It was created in 1965 by advocates for autism and parents of people with autism. The goal of this month is to promote understanding of the disorder and to break down some of the stigma surrounding it.
Ms. Bobbi Belleville, life skills teacher, also works with Trinity’s students with special needs.
“If you take the time to get to know them, you’ll find only kindness,” Belleville says.
Trinity West hosts an annual Color Walk for Autism in April to honor the month. Trinity Middle School’s autistic support and life skills classes host an Autism Awareness Carnival every year and see attendees from many local school districts.
Recognizing Autism Awareness in April is an important step in making sure everyone diagnosed with this disorder has equal opportunities in life and access to the support they need to flourish.
