Autism is a tricky disorder. It’s hard to diagnose if you don’t know what to look for and while diagnosing it has become easier, finding therapy and other resources can be difficult. It’s an issue near and dear to my heart, I’ve known many people on the spectrum throughout every stage of my life, literally all the way from preschool to being a working professional.
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Which is why this poem, written back in 2016 by a young student named Benjamin Giroux as an assignment for school, is so powerful to me. It’s a raw and honest view into how alienating the disorder can make everyday life feel, and it’s even more amazing considering that he was 10 years old when he wrote it.
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The assignment stunned his teacher, but it ended up stunning a lot more people when the National Autism Association picked up the story. The poem even won the Princess Ronkonkoma productions poetry contest. He was also named Poet Laureate for the cities of Plattsburgh and his hometown of Beekmantown, NY.
It’s still inspiring people to this day. Songs have been written around the poem, and Ben got to meet some pretty incredible people.
He was recently able to meet Dr. Temple Grandin, a legendary researcher of animal behavior who also has autism. She’s an inspirational figure in the autism community and I can only imagine how Benjamin felt meeting her.
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And hey, being an advocate for anything has its perks. And I’ve gotta give Benjamin some credit here, the caption he wrote for this picture is hilarious:
Raising #autismawareness is a tough job, but someone has to do it! #oddtoo
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That hashtag (#oddtoo) seems to be Benjamin’s calling card and considering its refrain in his poetry, it’s very appropriate. And while Benjamin has been able to go around advocating for the autism community, he hasn’t forgotten what made him write the poem in the first place.
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According to an article from Sun Community News, Benjamin receives praise from other students like himself from all over. From the article:
The most rewarding experience of this year, Benjamin said, was helping other kids like himself.
“I’ve gotten letters from students thanking me for writing my poem,” he said via email. “I liked that.”
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So, here’s to Benjamin Giroux, an inspiration for kids and adults alike.
And best of luck as an advocate for autism!
h/t Distractify
