In a busy Washington, D.C. classroom, a student rocks gently in his chair, hands over his ears.
The teacher assumes he’s being defiant and calls his name sharply. In reality, the fluorescent lights and echoing voices have overwhelmed his senses. This scene plays out daily in schools across the District not because educators lack compassion, but because too often, autism is seen as a behavior problem rather than a neurological difference that deserves understanding and accommodation.
Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a developmental condition that affects how a person communicates, learns and experiences the world. It exists on a spectrum, meaning no two individuals experience it in the same way. Some may have strong verbal and social skills, while others rely on sensory or visual processing to make sense of their environment. What’s consistent is that autism changes how the brain perceives and responds to sensory input lights, sounds, textures and emotions that many people take for granted…