By Lori Berkey, Contributing Writer
Northborough – Math is simple to Adam Midgette. Making friends is much more complicated. Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, Midgette was bullied in school before switching to Keystone National, an online high school. Now, he's a spokesperson at community venues, helping the audience understand what it's like to live with the condition. Midgette, along with other teenagers, gives presentations as part of the Student-to-Student Autism Connection group, a program of the Northborough-based nonprofit organization, “The Friendship Network for Children.” Midgette joined the group to provide clarity. Now he has friends.
According to Nancy Swanberg, executive director of the Friendship Network for Children, the Student-to-Student Autism Connection group started three years ago. The group's mission is to get people who do not have autism to socialize and get to know people who do, and then to give presentations to raise awareness of autism and misunderstandings that happen. Presentations have been done in schools and are offered to the public.
When presenting, Midgette relays his experiences, such as being overpowered by smells in the cafeteria. He shows slides that demonstrate how he felt during different stages of the school day, especially after hearing hurtful comments. The last slide reads: “Think before you act and think before you speak. What you say to people can affect their whole life.”
Midgette makes it clear that people with autism have many unique strengths and difficulties, just like everyone else.
“Some people might need more understanding than others in some situations we might run into, but we'se just normal people. We'se not some alien,” he said.
Carolyn Braverman, a student at Algonquin Regional High School, joined two years ago because she has a close family member with autism, and she wanted to learn how and why he was different.
She acknowledged their first meeting was awkward. No one talked. It was dead silence.
“Now there's no tension,” Braverman said, “It went from a very awkward situation to just a group of friends.”
Jeremy Johnson is a member who also experienced bullying related to his condition. Johnson benefits from prompts to convey his view. When asked if he likes being in the group, he gave a resounding “Yeah,” and backed his point with a huge smile.
Meghan Murray, a student at Algonquin, shares Johnson's enthusiasm.
“We'se all become such good friends over the last two years and the friendships go outside of the meetings,” Murray said, “Lots of teachers and principals say that hearing it from students makes a better impact. It's just good to get the message across.”
Shrewsbury resident Jennifer Yu is a senior at the Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School in Marlborough. Two of her main interests are science and community service, and she joined for the opportunity to combine those passions. Yu heard someone in the audience was so moved during one of their presentations that the person cried.
“It was a good feeling to know people were listening and to see there was an impact,” she said.
Swanberg volunteers for the Student-to-Student Autism Connection, as that group is not in the agency's budget. Donations are accepted. A fundraiser “Art for Autism,” featuring a silent auction and a presentation by the group, is scheduled for Saturday, April 14, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Parish Hall, 40 Church St. in Northborough. The event will benefit the Friendship Network for Children's autism counseling, groups and advocacy services. For information, contact Swanberg at 508-393-0030 or [email protected].