MY GOALS
I want to continue rocking the world. I believe that my journey can inspire others. I’ve worked hard my whole life to lead the best life I can. I hope to meet a young woman who likes cartoons, names and baking cookies. I want the same in my life as my peers. I believe that we all deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. I hope to continue being a leader in the disability world. I feel strong when I participate in a process that will help others who are part of the disability world. Like Arthur the Aardvark, I’ve always been cool with myself and so should you!
ABOUT ME
I grew up in Marblehead, MA and graduated from Marblehead High School in 2014. After graduation, I attended a program called SOAR at Salem State University. I live independently in an apartment in Salem, MA with some help from life coaches for cooking, cleaning and organizing myself. I work at a clinic called Project CHILLD. This is an OT clinic and I am responsible for cleaning and putting away the equipment. I also work at Camp Fire and assist with the children.
Because I have autism, my brain is wired differently. When I’m in an environment that I find confusing, I get nervous and anxious. When this happens, my behavior can be bizarre. I may jump around, say random words or repeat thoughts. This type of behavior is soothing to me. I also like certain topics, like names and cartoons. This gives me order in my world. I love Arthur the Aardvark and Looney Tunes. I love wearing cartoon T-shirts and funky socks. For fun, I enjoy running, sailing, skiing, biking, hiking and paddleboarding. I also love to travel.
Sometimes people with autism don’t like to be social. However, I love to be social. Having meaningful relationships is very important to me. That's why I'm excited to be a Flutie Fellow, an ambassador to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.