It's April and that means many well-meaning people are supporting the Light it Up Blue event for Autism Awareness. The problem is that this movement has a major silence that cannot be ignored. And despite groups with ironic names such as Autism Speaks doing everything in their power to silence this group, we will not remain silent.

I will not remain silent.

I have Autism. Diagnosed when I was around 4 years of age, my Mother realized what was going on even sooner. Thanks to her interest in special education long before I was even born, I got the help that I needed at a young age. I had a speech problem when I was younger that would surprise those who know me now. I was incapable of speech until the age of 4 years old. Compare that to now where my peers wish I would shut my mouth even for a few moments and let them have a chance to share their thoughts.

When I was a first grader, I was known to be shy but filled to the brim with knowledge. I fit the archetypes and stereotypes of Autism. As a result, even though I was bullied heavily when I was young, it was less because of Autism and less because of my other personality traits. My unwillingness to let go of things, and to remember everything. Once again, stereotypical behaviors of Autism.

However, in high school, I began to deviate from my stereotypes, and as a result, my life became much more difficult. I turned away from mathematics and repetition. Instead, I found a passion for reading, writing, and most importantly, speech giving.

Autism is a spectrum condition. What this means is that each and every person with the condition is their own person. Stereotypes cannot define people with Autism any more than they can define any other minority. For this condition is a way of life. An altered state of being that is permanent. When allowed to flourish to its fullest, people with Autism are capable of greatness. Our different methods of learning can benefit the world in many ways. However, when a person in this group like any other is surrounded by despair, unique sets of tragedies can manifest instead.

Looking at a personal example, one of my younger brothers also has Autism. Like me, he is high functioning. But while I fall on the Asperger's part of this spectrum, he falls firmly on the Autism Part. It is interesting to compare and contrast both of us. Only our natures are different. Meanwhile, our nurtures are near identical. We read the same books, played the same video games, and most importantly, went to the same school as children.

Now, we are both adults and are looking to graduate from college a couple months apart. Despite our 5 years difference in age, we both took different paths to the same goal. However, as adults, while there is much we have in common, there are also ways that we differ. To me, these differences are far more important to understanding Autism than looking at the similarities.

Stripping away the fear of the unknown is a great place to start. That way people can start seeing those on the spectrum as humans instead of mentally ill. Looking at me for example, I play a lot of video games. I also am a pet parent courtesy of my cat. I live almost 1000 miles away from my family and make most of my own decisions. The only thing holding me back truly at the moment is my inability to work a full-time job while finishing up college. For that reason, I depend on my family financially still. But this is hardly uncommon among other people near my age.

To truly understand Autism requires hearing from voices in the Autism community. Groups like Autism Speaks who shut down this conversation for the sake of pushing a narrative of Autism being a disease pose a real problem. They tell parents that they are victims and that their children existing is a tragedy.

The only tragedy with Autism is being an incredibly misunderstood condition.

For those who truly want to see a positive difference in the Autism Community, do away with the puzzle piece imagery. Being Autistic does not mean we are dysfunctional. Do away with Light it Up Blue. We are not some disease ridden people eagerly awaiting a cure. Instead, people with Autism are just another group of people looking to live our lives to the fullest.

We live in a society that stigmatizes neurological differences, but it does not need to stay that way. I have always been a firm believer in being the change I want to see in the world, thus, I am using the fact that I write to spread this important message about Autism. I can share my voice at open mics.

And that message is simple: Autism is not a disease. It is a way of life. The way of life I have chosen alongside many others that live on the same incredibly complex spectrum. The world at large needs to start focusing on what diversity can bring to the table rather than putting people into subcategories. By doing so, the potential of what humanity can accomplish becomes that much greater. By denying this diversity, our world grows darker as that same potential vanishes.

I am many things, but a disease is not one of them.

People with Autism are not looking for a cure. We are looking for acceptance and a place where we belong, just like everyone else.