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In “Everything’s Gonna Be Okay,” which premiered on Freeform in January 2020, I play a girl with autism, Matilda, coming of age in high school with some, shall we say, complicated family dynamics. The series creator and my fellow actor on the show, Josh Thomas, built a story that features a neurodiverse cast and explores themes of acceptance, kinship, adolescence, grief, romance and sexuality, and ultimately what it means to be a complicated human in an equally complicated world.
When I first sat down for a table read with the whole cast of “EGBO,” as the first person with autism spectrum disorder to play a lead character with autism on American television, I found support, love and inspiration, building real chemistry even before hitting the set. It helps that the atmosphere around the show encourages us to bring our whole selves to work: I am able to share my personal experiences and interests with my castmates. When I enter the studio, it’s like seeing family.
April is Autism Awareness Month
By Leigh Anne Wenning - Contributing columnist
April is Autism Acceptance Month or National Autism Awareness Month. This month is designated to promote awareness of autism and autism spectrum disorders and shine light on the unique abilities that people with autism bring.
Autism is a neurological condition that is typically diagnosed by the age of 3, but may be diagnosed later in life. Children with autism, just like any other child, vary significantly and display a wide range of conditions. Autism often affects a person’s communication abilities, impact social skills, nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Autism is known as a spectrum disorder and people with autism each have a unique experience with their own challenges and strengths. Some individuals with autism may need significant help with their daily life and require a parent or paid direct support professional to assist them with daily living tasks. While other people with auti
WSU student fundraises for autism awareness, acceptance for month of April dailyevergreen.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailyevergreen.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Anna Jeffries
Licking County Board of DD
NEWARK - As the mom of a 15-year-old daughter on the autism spectrum, sometimes the thing Paula Hamilton needs most is to know her family isn’t alone.
When she found out that Autism Society Central Ohio (ASCO) was establishing a Coffee, Tea, Autism and more support groups in Licking County, she decided to join.
“I just think it helps to know there are other parents out there who have the same issues,” she said. “Being able to talk to someone else has been so nice.”
Attending the meetings gave her the opportunity to share her experiences while also taking time for self care. She even got the opportunity to try restorative yoga.