Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurological and developmental condition that affects how individuals interact with the world around them. It has a wide range of symptoms, such as difficulties in communication, social interactions, and repetitive behaviors. People with autism may have different strengths and challenges, leading to a unique spectrum of abilities and needs. In 2023, the CDC reported that approximately 1 in 36 children in the US is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 31% of children with ASD have an intellectual disability. There is no medical detection for autism.

On a sunny day in July, Cece Gao and Billy Gao sat on the grass being interviewed by the Lens of Youth. Cece is the mother of Billy, a very outgoing 27-year-old with autism. Billy and Cece have had many special experiences that other people have not had before.

Billy, having traveled to many places with his mother Cece, has a variety of favorite places, including California, Las Vegas, the North Pole, Iceland, Greenland and Canada. Cece mentioned that when they visited the North Pole, they participated in the Polar Plunge, running through ice cold water that goes up to your chest! Luckily, Billy is a very good swimmer — he won a silver medal in the Special Olympics! He officially joined special olympic swimming training and competition in 2007, but started swimming when he was just 11 months old. 

When asked, “What music do you listen to?” he answered that he likes multiple songs and creators, but his favorite song is “Thriller Thriller Night” by Michael Jackson. Billy also said that Michael Jackson passed in 2009, and rattles off death anniversaries of multiple people. Here, Billy’s mother, Cece, explains that Billy is very interested in the history of various people, such as American presidents, movie stars, singers and so on. He will also pay attention to the news of the passing of celebrities, and  reports if anybody had passed on everyday, even looking up this topic on the internet. 

Apparently, Billy spends the majority of his day researching what interests him! Many people do not have the time or opportunity to do this. One of the topics he researches are US Presidents. He likes George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, John Adams, Andrew Jackson, George H. W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Calvin Coolidge, and many more! Billy met President Jimmy Carter in America and basketball player Yao Ming in China （CeCe notes： Uncle Jim is Billy’s uncle, he is a long term good friend to president Jimmy Carter and take Billy and our all family met president Jimmy Carter)

Billy also spends time working. His current job is at Winkle, an employee-owned food store — each employee owns a stock of Winkle. It has two locations in Washington. You can make your own honey and peanut butter there! Billy himself cleans windows and does ‘yogurt stuff’. He recently learned to say “Follow me!” whenever a customer asks him a question. Having a job for twenty hours a week is a goal for Billy. 

After interviewing Billy, we asked his mom, Cece, some questions. Cece is a Chinese teacher at her school, and also has her own non-profit organization that supports other families with developmental disabilities. She finds many ways to give strength to herself and other people. 

Motherhood makes women stronger, as the old Chinese saying “weimuzegang” suggests. Billy’s mom experienced this firsthand, as she became more resilient after having her child. She said that she did not only become stronger, she also changed into a more tender person. She developed a kind of strength that allowed her to “bend in various ways without breaking.” She expresses, “I feel that I have become softer, not stronger, or I have become more tenacious – softened but not easily broken…” Like animals caring for their children, she would do anything to give the best possible life for her son.

Cece emphasizes the importance of interactions between Billy and his peers in school. Inclusive education has made great progress in supporting students with special needs in regular classrooms. Billy’s experiences show the importance of encouraging interactions between these students and their peers. In our personal encounters at school, we have seen peers who are accompanied by adults to classes. Because of this, we have never had the opportunity to talk with them. Unlike our classmates, Billy did not have adults accompanying him to class, so he has had more chances to connect with other students. Billy’s mom says he enjoys talking to others, stressing the need to create an environment that supports socializing for students similar to Billy.

Some students, including some of Billy’s peers, may have felt uncomfortable interacting due to sensory issues. Nonetheless, Billy was not dispirited by this. Billy’s active involvement in school extended beyond just his own classes; he delivered numerous speeches for various subjects. Because of this engagement, peers were able to know more about Billy. Even outside the school environment, for example, in his neighborhood, people walking by display warmth towards Billy. When they see him, his neighbors greet Billy with friendly waves and hellos. These connections in his own community further highlight the impact of his interactions on those around him.

Nearly two-thirds of students with autism have been bullied. This made us wonder if he has ever faced any mistreatment. We were also curious if he has ever expressed his feelings to his mother and if he feels hurt by these actions. Billy was not able to communicate what happened at school to his mother, so Cece didn’t know what occurred at school. Billy has difficulty expressing any feelings of hurt. He didn’t understand when people cursed at him or joked about him on the bus. 

This highlights the need to understand people with autism. When we asked Cece how we can support people with autism, she suggested that we try to become friends with them even if they’re different. People with autism are typically very honest. They may not understand social cues and rules, and may come off as rude and disrespectful. This leads to them not making many friends and possibly being outcasted.  They may seem distant, but they all have their own way of showing love. Billy, for example, would express his care by remembering peoples’ birthdays. Billy’s mom said that every time it was someone’s birthday, he would tell her about it. 

Another way Cece supports Billy is by setting goals with him for the future. One of their current goals is to make a drum team with people who have developmental disabilities. Because Billy has a very good sense of music and has learned a lot of instruments, performing in the drum team provides a new outlet for his passion. Billy loves to be on the stage, which allows him to play a role that makes it easier for him to communicate. Drama is therapy in real life. Communicating with people is hard for people with developmental disabilities and they feel like they do not have a “role” in life. But in a drama, all the conversation is already planned out and can play their role.

Cece feels particularly happy when she takes Billy out for them to have fun. Among her memorable experiences with Billy is that during the pandemic, they would go discover new places every week. They continue this tradition today. Sometimes Cece comes up with the destinations and takes Billy there, and sometimes Billy finds a place he is interested in and suggests that his mom goes with him. These places could range from exploring less-known  places to viewing spectacular scenery.

One adventure that Cece will never forget is when she and Billy went to go see a volcano in the North Pole, and their guide brought them to the wrong place. That resulted in them walking for 7 hours in the dark with a single bottle of water and salty beef jerky. Despite all of this, Billy did not complain and stayed on task the whole time. His calmness kept Cece and the guide from panicking in this stressful situation. Cece called Billy a hero.

People with autism have character and emotions that are often misunderstood. By seeing through the perspective of Cece and Billy, we understand the world of autism better and have found ways to support people around us who have developmental disabilities. The Lens of Youth hopes that developmental disabilities such as autism are better understood and acknowledged in our community by respecting communication styles, practicing patience and empathy, and advocating for inclusion.