Even when life may seem so difficult, I want to make a difference and educate others. My name is Haley, and I have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism does not define me it just means that I learn a little differently. I do have social differences and sometimes I make sounds or movements that are unusual. But again, that does not define who I am. It is difficult for me to understand why acceptance of a kid with Autism in the schools and in the community is difficult for so many. Why does life have to be so lonely for kids that are different? Learning to advocate for myself and teach others how we can all function together is so important. I have excelled by learning from my peers, teachers, friends, and others in my community, so it is very important for me to be involved with others and put myself out there. I have found opportunities in life that have given me the self-confidence to rise above my differences and achieve my goals. The more that I can help others understand Autism, the more I fit in and continuously move forward toward my goals. Every day I must show perseverance, self-discipline, and self-motivation to be me. I am very self-motivated to seek out and find opportunities in life that give me the self-confidence to rise above my differences and excel in life. "You must believe to achieve" and I believe every day that I will be successful and be an example of these leadership skills. I often think about my desire to learn and achieve my goals to become an effective motivational and inspirational speaker and support people with Autism and other disabilities through education. There is such a misunderstanding of what people think about individuals with Autism. Every person with Autism is different, but unique. I feel that I can make a change in society. How we move forward to support one another is key. I will move forward and educate others about inclusion. Learning to speak publicly and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities will be the result of my studies. I can assist families in determining their life plan, how to succeed in life, and to learn to create their own vision and goals. In the last 4 years, I have spent many hours educating others and being an example of how individuals with Autism can learn and be included at the same time. My educational goals are to achieve a degree in Communication and Advocacy. This is so important to me, because I don't want to ever feel like I am not good enough and I don't want to feel alone. Nor do I want my friends to feel that way. We are good enough and we do belong. Lastly, I know I can make an impact on people in my community. I want to be an example to others that if you put in hard work and believe in yourself, you can be successful. Having this higher level of education will assist me in just that. I will be able to speak publicly and advocate for people with disabilities and their families. I will pay it forward by being that positive role model while advocating for the rights of people with disabilities.

My name is Haley, and I have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism does not define me; it just means that I learn a little differently. I do have social differences and sometimes I make sounds or movements that are unusual, but I would rather list the things I can do well. I am currently in high school, and I experience challenges every day. I face students who think I cannot do anything and students who understand my differences and want to include me. I also face teachers who think my class belongs hidden away from other students and that I do not deserve to be with typical same age peers which is so sad to even say. On the other hand, I do have teachers and coaches that support me and include me everyday. They accept that I am different and recognize the importance of inclusion. In the last 4 years, I have spent many hours educating others and being an example of how individuals with disabilities can learn and be included at the same time. My accomplishments include earning my spot in the National Honors Society, voted Matanzas High School Captain of the Code 2023-2024, elected to Theatre Troupe 7108 and earning roles in theater productions, participating in Special Olympics Flagler County Florida: Swim team, Basketball team, Bowling team and Cheer team and accepting Athlete of the Year for Flagler County 2022. I was also nominated for Matanzas Homecoming Court 2024. I also participated in many extra-curricular activities at Matanzas High School: Varsity Cheerleading, Varsity Bowling, Varsity Basketball, Steel Drums, and High School Theatre including performances in Mamma Mia, Annie Jr., and Night of the Living Dead. All extra-curricular activities include a total of 100 additional volunteer community service hours. Most recently, I started a vocational rehabilitation program during my senior year in high school. I am now ready to move to the next level of education after high school. My educational goals are to graduate from a 4-year University with a degree in Communication and Advocacy. I want to inspire others by continuing to be a positive role model at school and in my community. I want to encourage others with and without disabilities to continuously move forward following their dreams and goals. During high school, I knew that I needed to get involved and make a difference. I educated others about my abilities and how we could all succeed by helping each other by working together. I led by example and never limited myself. My social skills and physical abilities soared. My confidence rose to all new levels. I began talking about my own goals and dreams and how I wanted to attend college to be as independent as possible. I shared my story and experiences with everyone. This is so important to me, because I don't want to ever feel like I am not good enough and I don't want to feel alone. Nor do I want my friends to feel that way. We are good enough and we do belong. I know I can make an impact on people in my community. I want to be an example to others that if you put in hard work and believe in yourself, you can be successful. Having this higher level of education will assist me in just that. I will be able to speak publicly and advocate for people with disabilities and their families. I will pay it forward by being that positive role model while advocating for the rights of people with disabilities.

Even when life may seem so difficult, having that one-person step in and open a door to make a difference gives you the strength you need to rise above. I believe Jack Terry knew he had to put one foot in front of the other to change his life and persevere. My name is Haley, and I have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism does not define me it just means that I learn a little differently. I do have social differences and sometimes I make sounds or movements that are unusual. But again that does not define who I am. It is difficult to understand why acceptance of a kid with special needs in school and in the community is difficult for so many. Why does life have to be so lonely for kids that are different? I have learned to advocate for myself and teach others how we can all function together. I learn from my peers, teachers, friends, and others in my community, so it is very important for me to be involved with others and put myself out there. I have found opportunities in life that have given me the self-confidence to rise above my differences and excel in life. The more that I can help others understand Autism, the more I fit in and continuously move forward toward my goals. Every day I must show perseverance, self-discipline, and self-motivation to be me. I am very self-motivated to seek out and find opportunities in life that give me the self-confidence to rise above my differences and excel in life. Each day I am even more motivated to succeed in every opportunity that comes my way. It is like a ladder and being motivated to move to the very top one step at a time. The more that I can help others understand Autism, the more I fit in and continuously move forward toward my goals. Always striving to do my best in everything I do. "You must believe to achieve" and I believe every day that I will be successful and be an example of these leadership skills. I often think about my desire to learn and achieve my goals to become an effective motivational and inspirational speaker and support people with Autism and other disabilities through education. There is such a misunderstanding of what people think about individuals with a disability. Every person with a disability is different, but unique. There are hardships that affect the disabled individual, their families, and their social connections. I feel that I can make a change in society. How we move forward to support one another is key. I will move forward and educate others about inclusion. Learning to speak publicly and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities will be the result of my studies. I can assist families in determining their life plan, how to succeed in life, and to learn to create their own vision and goals. I will persevere.