“When the owner of the place I worked at found out I had autism, he gave me the feeling that he wanted to fire me,” said an attendee of The Autism on a Deeper Level Support Group.
Six Brookdale Community College students sat in chairs in a circle in MAN 102 at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, sharing their experiences.
“Someone called me to the boss’s office and then the boss told me that he found out I have autism and he questioned if I could do the job… After that interaction with my boss, I decided to quit because I felt like he wanted to fire me even though he didn’t exactly say that,” the student continued.
At the meeting, which is held 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Thursday, there was a lot of talk about what it is like socially for students who are autistic. Being teased, mocked and misunderstood was a big part of what they talked about during the event. They also talked about how professors can accommodate autistic students.
“You can’t really define autism because it is so complex,” a member said. Professors and autistic students need to communicate about what they need and find a middle ground for the student to have the best possible experience, members said.
Everyone had their own unique experiences with autism, but they all supported each other and empowered each other to believe in themselves.
The members appeared to get along well, and they felt comfortable sharing vulnerable stories about their lives. This consisted of times when they were in middle school, high school, their time at Brookdale so far and what life is like outside of the school walls for people with autism.
A member said this group was formed “a couple of semesters ago,” and they wanted to give autistic people a voice. The group helps other Brookdale students with autism bond, share their stories and build a community where they feel like they are not left out.
During the event some people were doodling on paper, looking at their computers, or on their phones as the event was going on. Some of the members were gripping toys during the event and just having a good time. This event was a judgment free zone, and everyone was free to be how they wanted and share their stories.
The meeting ended with someone saying that it was 1 p.m., and it is time for everyone to go. They said they wanted people to go to next Thursday’s meeting. The members do not have to attend every single meeting, but they can go whenever they want.
After the event, people expressed that they want more people to join, and they know that there are a lot more autistic students on campus that aren’t attending.
