by Jessica Leving, Chicago, IL (age 16 when written)
It was just after 1 a.m. on a Tuesday night and an incredibly difficult decision loomed before me.
I was sitting with my legs crossed at my computer, weighing the pros and cons of my two options—to do my chemistry homework and go to bed, or to continue browsing through old messages posted on my high school's underground student website.
The answer to this incredibly difficult question was obvious: colligative properties would just have to wait. While lazily surfing through the message boards, a title jumped out at me. It stated, "To Kill a Retard." What I read when I opened it drove any lingering drowsiness far to the back of my mind.
Someone had posted a message saying they thought all mentally retarded people should be killed. In language reminiscent of the days of Hitler, the posting called mentally retarded people useless, and even a "plague."
I cannot say for certain whether or not the author's intent was to be humorous. But even if it was, I was far more disturbed than amused.
For me, the issue is personal: my little brother is autistic.
Up until reading this thread, I had always thought of my hometown as a fairly disability-friendly community. A large percentage of the students at my school and the adults in my community take advantage of the many special needs services that are available.
I was never worried about what might happen when my brother gets to high school until I saw those words. The level of ignorance and intolerance I saw expressed by my own classmates nauseated me.
How could people I know and see in school every day possibly make such hateful and blatantly inhumane statements?
I feel sorry for anyone who thinks offensive "humor" is the only way to react to differences among people. I feel sorry for anyone who thinks mentally retarded people are "useless." They obviously never have taken the time to get to know someone who has a mental disability, choosing instead to believe stereotypes so they can feel better about their own shortcomings.
Promoting awareness and tolerance
Although most people aren't hateful, I have noticed that a lot of people aren't aware of the issues faced by people with disabilities. In fact, many people don't even know what autism is.
I have noticed that many younger kids have not always been friendly or accepting of my brother or other peers who have disabilities. I think this is because they haven't received sufficient education about kids with special needs and why they act the way they do. So, I decided to try and do something about it.
After recruiting my friend Rachel to help me brainstorm, we came up with a plan.
First, in order to promote awareness and tolerance of autism and other neurological disorders, we wanted to write and publish a series of educational, illustrated children's books about mental disabilities. We would present and donate these books to elementary schools in our area and give copies to the local library.
We also wanted to create a kid-friendly website also with the goal of promoting tolerance and awareness. And finally, we would hold annual fundraisers to raise money for autism research.
With a $100 grant from Kids in Community Service, we were able to hold a fundraiser at a local park, complete with a moonwalk, DJ, raffle and more. We raised over $1,000, which was donated to Unlocking Autism and the Autism Society of America.
Without expensive supplies and professional help however, Rachel and I found ourselves unable to carry out the other aspects of our grand plan. But that is where the non-profit organization Youth Venture came in.
After I saw a newspaper article about Youth Venture, which provides funding to teenagers who want to organize community service projects or start a business, I sent in an application. To our shock and excitement, the organization accepted our idea!
Now, many months later, Rachel and I, along with several other friends, are able to achieve our goal.
Everyone has a purpose
This is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I know that I am doing all I can to help my brother. I'm not only helping him have a shot at being cured one day, but also to be understood by those around him.
I hope that in the future people will continue to exercise their right to free speech, as it is an important pillar of our society and our country.
But I have one word of caution: Until you have established a relationship with someone who is different than you, don't allow prejudice and fear to get the better of you. Until you have seen the big picture, don't assume that someone has no purpose in life. There isn't one single human being who does not, however indirectly, make a lasting imprint on society.
Having a younger brother with special needs has definitely impacted the way that I view the world around me, and has made me a more accepting and tolerant person.
Without my brother I probably would not be where I am today. He is one of the most empathic and understanding people I know, always quick with a hug when I'm sad, even if he can't comprehend what has made me unhappy. My brother is a human being with feelings just like everyone else. And that's more than enough "purpose" for me.
Jessica Leving is a high school sophomore from Chicago. In addition to founding Kids Who K.A.R.E, she serves as editor of her school newspaper and frequently volunteers in her community.
Reprinted with the generous permission of tolerance.org. Tolerance.org, a program of the Southern Poverty Law Center, is a principal online destination for people interested in dismantling bigotry and creating, in its stead, communities that value diversity. Its Mix It Up project believes in the power of youth to create and sustain real change.