A role model is someone who is an inspiration for the success you want to create. Even though I do consider myself famous for spreading autism awareness in online articles, printed magazines, and having my speech made into a claymation video, there are plenty of other autism advocates who have gone above and beyond. What allows me to navigate my road to success is learning from other autistic people who have been outspoken. There are two famous autism advocates I admire who have followed very difficult tracks:
Temple Grandin
For my 21st birthday, my grandma got tickets to an event at a Barnes and Noble Bookstore where we got to see Temple Grandin give a brief talk on her recent published book, “Calling All Minds.” Her scientific inventions, creative thinking, visualization skills have positively impacted billions of animals and people. I am very lucky that I not only got to meet her, have a picture with her, read her book, but also receive her autograph. In some of her books, Temple provides very clear instructions and images on how to make a variety of projects. She has spoken at countless venues about her road to becoming the most famous inventor on the autism spectrum.
Dr. Stephen Shore
As a professor of Special Education at Adelphi University, Dr. Stephen Shore has traveled all over the world doing presentations, giving talks, and meeting with leaders who have experience in being around people with autism. At my very first college visit at Adelphi, I met him for the first time in his office. With much gratitude, he invited me to share my personal story of having autism in one of his classes. During the holiday season of 2019, my brother and I attended a conference at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in the Bronx to watch Dr. Shore share his research on the best practices empowering people with autism.
These famous autism advocates are doing exactly what I want to do in the life that I am living. It is traveling the world raising autism awareness as a spokesperson. They signify not only all of the hard work they have done to get to where they are, but what makes their personal experiences become who they are.
David Sharif 