Celebrating the Brilliance of Autistic Students
Autism Awareness Month at St. Bonaventure Academy
Out of all the most exciting, creative, and intelligent children I’ve had the honor to work with over the years, the majority have been autistic. This isn’t just a passing observation—it’s a truth that has reshaped how I view education, potential, and the deep beauty of human difference.
At St. Bonaventure Academy, we believe that every child is wonderfully made, with a purpose uniquely their own. During Autism Awareness Month, we take special time to celebrate and spotlight the incredible gifts of our autistic students—not just to raise awareness, but to call our community to deeper understanding, empathy, and inclusion.
Autism Is Not a Deficit—It’s a Different Way of Thinking
Too often, autism is spoken about in terms of what it “lacks.” But what I’ve experienced firsthand is that many autistic children possess unmatched creativity, out-of-the-box thinking, and emotional depth that surprises and inspires. Whether it’s a student who sees mathematical patterns in music, or one who can craft entire fantasy worlds in stunning detail, autistic minds often live beyond the limits of convention.
Rather than forcing children to conform to the world’s expectations, our role as educators, parents, and advocates is to adapt the world to meet them—to create environments that celebrate difference rather than merely tolerate it.
What Inclusion Really Means
Inclusion at St. Bonaventure is not about just placing autistic students in a general education classroom—it’s about welcoming their presence, respecting their needs, and amplifying their voices. We train our staff to be trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming, and we work to provide spaces where all learners feel seen, heard, and safe.
We’re committed to helping all students—neurodivergent and neurotypical—learn from one another. Because the truth is, our school is stronger, more creative, and more compassionate because of our autistic students, not in spite of them.
How You Can Support
Listen to autistic voices: Many adults and children on the spectrum are sharing their own stories online and in local communities. Listening to them is the first step toward true understanding.
Challenge stereotypes: Autism doesn’t look one way. Every autistic child is unique, and their needs, strengths, and personalities vary widely.
Choose empathy over judgment: Behaviors that may seem unusual or disruptive are often ways of coping or communicating.
Advocate: Whether in classrooms, churches, or boardrooms, push for inclusive practices and policies.
A Community of Possibility
At St. Bonaventure, we’re building a community that doesn't just make room for autistic students—we’re building with them, because they are vital to our mission, our joy, and our future.
This Autism Awareness Month, let’s go beyond “awareness” and into acceptance, appreciation, and action. Because when we truly support autistic children, we open ourselves up to a world that’s more imaginative, empathetic, and deeply human.
With compassion and purpose,
Carrie Grace
Founder, St. Bonaventure Academy
