Accept-tional Me Harper — Jane Allen

When I was in kindergarten I was walking through a crowded mall with my parents and my little brother, Boone, who has autism. He was having one of his typical meltdowns due to a sensory overload from all of the sights ,sounds, and smells of the mall. While our family was already struggling, I noticed the judgmental looks from the other people shopping. It made me sad, and it made me angry. My parents tried to comfort me, explaining that those people just didn't understand our situation. From then on, I knew I wanted to teach people to respect those with different abilities. I am working to teach a younger generation that even if you look, talk, or act differently, everyone deserves to feel accepted!