Temple Grandin
- Julia Masi
- Apr 4
- 2 min read
the misconceived silence
of a phenomenal child
With eyes
Narrowed in contemplation
of her the images
That ran in circles
through her mind
Like pictures
in an endless flip book
She lassoed the golden calf
of neurodiversity
That defied the conventions
Emotional intelligence,
challenged linear thinkers to
Draw a circle,
A circle of empathy
A circle of inclusion
for the 1 in 36 students
April is Autism Acceptance Month, thirty days to call attention to the myriad of ways we can support people on the spectrum though advocacy, education and promotion of programs designed to provide resources and support for persons diagnosed as being on with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
As a volunteer, I have had the pleasure of spending time with the ADS community through two non-profits in the New York City area; Music for Autism and KEEN.
Music for Autism serves children and their families through free concerts round he city where the children get a chance to experience live music in a setting that allows
them to move freely as they listen and get a chance to participate for a few minutes, with small instruments, during each concert.
Their website has an interactive component, called Musical Zoo and a place to join their email list to find the next concert or stream it live at home.
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now )is a national volunteer led nonprofit organization with the purpose of accepting all children with disabilities into their programs.
All of the programs are free, non-competitive, and designed specifically to support the varying physical agility with age appropriate activities form bowling and martial arts to trampoline and art. My favorite ways to volunteer at KEEN have always been
their dance (especially the “FTC” ( as in forget the choreography, but what you thought it meant works too) and Art. Volunteer and participants choose the events
based on their interests and the day of each event.
Find the them at www.keenusa.org
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