By the time we've reached college, almost all of us have interacted with an Autistic person. You might not have known it, since Autism comes in many shapes and forms. Or you may have been frightened or made uneasy by the actions of the Autistic person. But that is why we need Autism Awareness Month so much.

Nationally, one in every 68 people are diagnosed with Autism and here in New Jersey, it's one in everyone 41. That is every eight minutes a person is diagnosed with Autism. But many people know little or nothing about the disease.

Autism exists on a spectrum. It affects each diagnosed person differently. Just because you've met one Autistic person, it does not mean you've met them all. For the most part, though, Autism is just a brain functioning differently than the "normal" standard.

Many Autistic people have "meltdowns" because they take in and cannot filter extra sensory details. So while you're reading this in your dorm room, an Autistic person would hear your finger tapping against the screen of your phone, the people talking in the hallway, the hum of your laptop and the lights, the cars running outside and the water running through pipes down the hall. That's a lot of information to process at once for any person. People without the disease are just better at ignoring the unneeded noises so we can focus on the task at hand.

But Autism comes with some great benefits. Many Autistic people have a higher IQ than average. They also pay particular attention to detail and are loyal and honest. They're visual learners and communicate directly, even if they don't look you in the eye. And they are very logical thinkers.

So the next time you see a child screaming and trying to run away in public and are interacting with a person who is Autistic. Don't focus on how they're different. Focus on all the similarities they have with you and the differences that make them so great.