Each autistic person has their own strengths and challenges. We are proud to share their stories in support of our continued work to increase understanding and acceptance, across the spectrum and throughout the life span.

Meet Madison M.

"When Madison was first diagnosed, my husband and I were worried
that she would never make friends, never be mainstreamed, never live
independently, nor be able to lead a happy life. But today, Madison
has exceeded our expectations by making friends, graduating from
college, now living independently and is a valuable member of the
teaching staff at Nathanial Morton Elementary School (Plymouth,
Mass.)."

"This was all made possible by early intervention, amazing therapists, mentors and teachers, increased access to autism resources, and most importantly, Madison's own perseverance and passion for turning her autism diagnosis into a positive. She makes us proud every single, day."
- Jenny M., Madison's mom

Learn more about Madison's autism journey through her own words
in this Q&A: [link removed]

How would you compare the person you are today to the person you were
before you received your autism diagnosis?

I was diagnosed with autism at a very early age, but my biggest
turning point was when I met my peer mentor, Jess. Jess told me to
"let myself out, not hold myself in," and that my
differences are what makes me who I am. From those words, my
confidence grew in a way I could never imagine, and I started to see
my disability and life from a whole new lens. Before I met Jess, I was
very shy, reserved, and felt very withdrawn from others. After she
came into my life my confidence grew so much, to the point that I
became positive about my autism and accepted it as a part of myself. I
also started to educate others about autism by doing charity work,
which lead to me starting the Autism Awareness Club at my high school,
which is still very active today.

How has your autism helped shaped you into the woman you are today?

I think of having autism as a journey, not as a disorder. My sense of
style, wearing a lot of jewelry and very bright colors are all part of
who I am. I also collect Squeezamals and have always loved to collect
the latest toys. If someone has told me that I couldn't do
something, I'm thankful to have proven them wrong. My autism is
just a part of me, and I view it in a positive light.

What struggles do you face as a result of your autism?

I also have dual diagnoses of OCD, ADHD, and generalized anxiety
disorder, so I get very thrown off if there's a change in
schedule or last-minute plans. I also experience sensory overload with
loud noises. For example, a fire drill or being at a sporting event
will give me sensory overload. Strong pungent smells along with
certain food textures also give me sensory overload. Also, some of my
interests are more juvenile, which I think is due to having autism.
For example, Paw Patrol is my favorite TV show.

Who are your biggest supporters and how have they positively impacted
your life?

My mentor, Jess, is my biggest role model because she inspired me to
become a mentor myself and give back to the autism community. This
eventually led me to go into teaching.

My aide, Megan, is also a huge influence because she helped me a lot
academically, socially, and emotionally when I was in elementary and
middle school. She highly inspired my teaching style. Megan introduced
a bag full of sensory toys to me which goes around with me everywhere
to help cope with my disability. She also became a good friend to my
family.

My parents have been huge supporters since day one. They did lots of
research and found what therapies were best for my early intervention
and how to find the best help for me in order to succeed. They never
gave up. My grandparents have also been huge supporters because they
helped out my parents a lot when I was receiving early intervention.
My best childhood friend Haley and her mom Jolene are huge supporters
of mine. Haley's mom was a second mom to me growing up and she
taught me how to make jewelry at a very young age, which became an
outlet for me to help cope with my disability.

What advice would you give to other people with autism possibly other
adults who were recently diagnosed?

Think of having autism as a journey, not as a disorder. Early
intervention goes a long way, and it has been very helpful for me, as
I was always someone who looked forward to going to my therapies and
was always willing to do the work. My advice for parents of newly
diagnosed children is to never give up, because my parents never gave
up and they found what therapies and services were best for me.

When you reflect on your life to this point, what are you most proud
of?

I'm most proud that I was hired as the Activities Director in the Plymouth School District. Being the very first autistic mentor in my high school's mentoring program. Starting my own jewelry business at age 14. And all the charity work that I've done for the autism community. 

What inspired you to venture into a career in education?

My mentor Jess inspired me to be a mentor for autistic children. I became a mentor for several children in school and home-based settings as well as a social skills group instructor at an after school and weekend program for autistic kids called "Aspirations." I was inspired to continue my work in special education as a career. I ended up getting a degree in special education with an art therapy minor, and plan to get my teaching certification in the future.

What do you enjoy most about the job?

I enjoy working with my students and helping them succeed. I also
enjoy planning out my weekly lesson plan themes and the activities
that center around it. I also have a very positive relationship with
all of my co-workers.

How has your autism journey helped you to better relate to students?

I have a very unique way of reaching special needs students because I
was once in their shoes. I am very empathetic about their struggles
and needs. I push for them to succeed, even if it's teaching
them flexibility. I also have shared with my students that I've
had similar struggles as them, which makes me more relatable.

What are some of your goals for the future?

A short-term goal I have is getting my driver's license. A
long-term goal is going to grad school and getting my master's
degree in special education, as well as getting my teaching
certification.

What are five words that best describe you?

Strong. Brave. Dedicated. Empathetic. Inspirational.




The story shared above represents the experience, views and
perspectives of the individual(s) highlighted. We aim to share stories
across the spectrum and throughout the life span, but the information
provided on our website is not a recommendation, referral or
endorsement of any resource, therapeutic method, or service provider
and does not replace the advice of medical, legal or educational
professionals.




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