Autism Acceptance: In Our Words

Welcome to RoboKind’s SEL Blog! This month we asked some of our team about their experience with Autism and Autism Acceptance Month. Today, you will be hearing from 9 RoboKinders:

From our New Partnership Team, we have Thomas Joseph. 

Jennifer Leggio, Donna Mulvaney, and Shauna Hedgepeth join us from our Partnership Success Team.

Daniel Lance and Jimmy Delaney work on our Development Team.

From our Professional Learning Team, we have the wonderful Tynishia Williams.

Representing our Product and Strategy Team, we have Marleigh Gilyard.

And finally, our very own Co-Founder and CEO Richard Margolin.  

What does Autism Acceptance mean to you?

One of the things I love about asking the same question to a group is the insight you get from their experiences.  We have heard the word Autism or phrase Autism Acceptance before, but hearing other peoples experience for the same topic can be eye opening.

Let's hear what autism acceptance means for our team:

"It is about providing space for everyone to be accepted & respected, regardless of their differences or abilities. While people with autism may require supports different from  neurotypicals, they bring with them their unique set of strengths & perspectives that have the capability of benefiting all of humanity.

Autism acceptance is about providing the tools, the systems, and the space for them to thrive in all aspects of society with safety, love, respect & dignity."

Thomas Joseph

New Partnership Manager

"It means to accept the whole person exactly as they are and treat them like an individual just like you would treat others."

Jennifer Leggio

Partnership Success Manager

"Autism acceptance means being inclusive to the whole person, not just treating autism and autistic people as some other to be 'aware' of."

Daniel Lance

Sr. Content Developer

"It is about fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where they are not just tolerated, but celebrated for their differences. Autism Acceptance is about educating ourselves and others to create a society where everyone can contribute and thrive, regardless of their neurological makeup."

Richard Margolin

Co-Founder & CEO

"It means accepting everyone for who they are, especially those that have a unique perspective of seeing and feeling things." 

Tynishia Williams

Professional Learning Specialist

How has Autism impacted you?

While most of us have heard of or know someone who has Autism, it has impacted everyone differently.  It could be a loved one, like a family member or close friend, or a student who has opened your eyes to new ways of teaching, or in general how we interact with other people in our everyday interactions.

"Autism has had a huge impact on my life. From my brother Roman’s initial ASD diagnosis to where he is now 15 years later- it’s truly been an adventure. Growing up, I remember thinking that it was my job to help my brother as he navigates through a world that isn’t always set up for him to shine. Looking back now, I realize that it’s he who helped me… His journey shaped the way I look at the world and interact with people around me. It’s made me kinder, more thoughtful, and less quick to cast judgment.

Autism brought my family closer together by teaching us how to lean on each other and celebrate the wins! It taught me to understand and appreciate neurodiversity as the beautiful (and valuable) thing that it is." 

Marleigh Gilyard

Director of Product Management and Strategy

"Autism has had a profound impact on my life, both personally and professionally. I have studied with people with autism, spent years doing research on autism and technology, and have dedicated most of my adult life to helping create new tools and programs which enable people to make real progress.  

I have close friends with autism, and their experiences have inspired me to continue building a company dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals on the spectrum. Working with people with autism has taught me valuable lessons about empathy, patience, and clear communication, it has taught me to be more mindful of when or how I interrupt people who are focused on what they are doing and it has made me more aware of environmental sensory sensitivities.

The resilience and unique perspectives of the people I have and continue to work with have motivated me to create innovative solutions that can improve their lives."

Richard Margolin

Co-Founder & CEO

"I’ve coached at least three autistic archers. Watching them find a sport that they love and can thrive in has been so great. Their fellow archers treat them with respect and help them grow. For our nonverbal archers, our students find ways to communicate with them that work for the archer without being judgmental."

Shauna Hedgepeth

Partnership Success Manager

"It's made me think about social situations differently, and be grateful for the ability to recognize basic emotional states/feelings. It's also made me realize I need to be more patient and literal in my communication."

Jimmy Delaney

Senior Frontend Engineer

"As an educator, I had a lot of students that were autistic in my class that made life happy. I've had students of mine save me... letting me know it's going to be okay. Not to mention the laughs from all the jokes.

My biggest prize possession now, having a nephew with ASD- when I first got to RK he was nonverbal and now he's talking. I hope as my nephew grows up people see him as Alexander Shelter, as one of the strongest people I know. It's allowed my dad to understand other people that aren't like him, and helped my sisters better understand. He tells us something every day that makes us laugh. He's going into general education classroom next year, with a bunch of family and advocates to support him."

Tynishia Williams

Professional Learning Specialist

Why is autism acceptance important to you?

"Autism Acceptance is important to me because I believe that every individual has the potential to make meaningful contributions to society and that we need to focus on enabling neurodiverse individuals to be able to achieve their full capabilities. As the founder of a robotics company that helps people with autism develop social and emotional skills, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of inclusion and understanding when enabling people with modern tools that overcome communication barriers, and other important. Ensuring that people with autism have equal opportunities to succeed and be valued for who they are is not only a moral imperative but also a way to enrich our communities with their talents and insights neurodiversity is an important part of diversity as it brings in different perspectives and approaches.

Richard Margolin

Co-Founder & CEO

"Because autistic people are brilliant and have so many things to give the world."

Shauna Hedgepeth

Partnership Success Manager

"It is not just important; it is critical for our society to work together to accept everyone for who they are and how they were created."

Donna Mulvaney

Partnership Success Manager

"Autism Acceptance month is important because even though Autism is very prevalent (1 in 36 children are diagnosed with ASD), there are still so many misconceptions about Autistic people."

Marleigh Gilyard

Director of Product Management and Strategy

What do you think when you hear the word autism?

"When I hear the word autism, I think of the incredible potential that lies within each individual on the spectrum. I am reminded of the remarkable people I have had the privilege to work with, and their determination to overcome challenges and reach their goals, and be accepting. Autism is a reminder that our differences can be our strengths and that every person has unique gifts to offer the world." 

Richard Margolin

Co-Founder & CEO

"Creative, bright, overcomer, achiever, intuitive, sensitive, amazing no matter what level of support is needed in life." 

Donna Mulvaney

Partnership Success Manager

"Someone who processes and experiences the world in a way that is possibly different from me." 

Shauna Hedgepeth

Partnership Success Manager

"When I hear the word Autism, I think of things being processed in a different way. I think about everybody being wired differently. Sometimes they see things so clearly- when the rest of us are going around in circles, and they're like you simply get there from point A to point B. I also think of beauty and honesty. I think of a brighter future when I think of the word Autism."

Tynishia Williams

Professional Learning Specialist

What do you want people to know about autism?

"Autistic people are as capable as anyone else. Be literal, be direct, be patient, and be kind." 

Jimmy Delaney

Senior Frontend Engineer

"I want people to know that autism is not a limitation but a different way of experiencing and engaging with the world."

Richard Margolin

Co-Founder & CEO

"They are human beings first and foremost."

Thomas Joseph

New Partnership Manager

"Autistic people bring wonderful things to the world."

Shauna Hedgepeth

Partnership Success Manager

"Roman is the most joyful person I’ve ever met. He literally wakes up with a smile on his face- ready for the what excitement the new day will bring. You can’t be around him without laughing. He has a great sense of humor and is able to act out hundreds of funny scenes from movies and shows all from his memory. He loves his family and shows it with words and affection. He has a driver’s license, performs in school plays, and runs his own YouTube channel. He takes on social and sensory challenges everyday and never loses his determination. I want people to know that Autism might look different than what they thought."

Marleigh Gilyard

Director of Product Management and Strategy

"If you know one autistic person, then you know one autistic person.  It is not a category of people."

Donna Mulvaney

Partnership Success Manager

That’s all for this month's RoboKind SEL Blog! Thanks again to our team for sharing some of their life experiences and thoughts with us. See you soon!