Do you really know what it feels like to be different

I interviewed a 17-year-old Neurodivergent girl to have her explain if she feels included and accepted or different at school.

Acceptance starts at home. We all should choose our words and actions wisely. A body in a chair is inclusive, but does that child feel included?

” I eat lunch alone every day We have assigned seats. I don’t know the people I sit with. I tried to sit with a group of girls, but I don’t know how to add to the conversation. I want to talk. I say a random thing. People stare at me then talk about other things without acknowledging that I’ve spoken.

I’m lonely. No one wants to hang out with me on weekends. No one texts, no one calls.

I’m a repeater, hugger and live with high anxiety. Sometimes I just don’t want to go to school because my anxiety makes me sick.

I’m busy in activities: band, choir, theatre, Best Buddies, Bowling, Tennis, Speech, Science Club. My grades are good. I travel with our show choir and help backstage, I volunteer to work in concession stands at football games & wrestling matches.

I always have an adult with me. I’m 17 & cannot go to the bathroom on my own. My associate asks me to hurry. The feeling to deficate is now gone. I’ll now be throwing up later because of constipation.

Is it against my rights to not be allowed private bathroom time to do my business? Maybe the school board should be informed.

I have learning disabilities & a way of being me. I don’t feel like I fit in anywhere. My teachers all have inclusion teachers in the room. Sometimes my work doesn’t get done & that’s an F. Looking at the grades, why doesn’t any teacher help me…when I’m not anxious and able to do my work, it’s A or A+ work.

I CAN do the work. I need help in coping how to live in a neurotypical world. How can I force myself to not be anxious that a racist person, like the substitute teacher who can never come back to school, will be on a bus, store or job with me.

My memory does not allow you to tell me once & I’ve got it. I’m a visual learner. I comprehend written material when read aloud. I read 2 to 3 books at a time & am a fast reader.

I don’t like the term ‘special education.’ I’m not broken. I just need to be taught the way my brain works. Using my brain doesn’t make me special and the tools be taught is still ‘education.’

I wish I didn’t have to try to hard to be “normal” to fit in to the neurotypical world & people just accepted me as I am, in all my fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, sometimes quirky, emotional, sometimes anxious neurodiverse me.

It’s easy to just be me. I love my collection of dolls, especially trying to find retired early Pleasant Company American Girl dolls before Mattel bought the company. I like so many music artists, but probably don’t know the currect hits.

I have knowledge about many subjects & want to share and learn. Social anxiety sucks.

I sometimes become so overwhelmed that I need to get away. If I don’t understand a complicated multi-step, I immediately become worried at how hard it is. I call myself stupid or just avoid the problem. Simple explanations are better. I like to be finished with my work & often have overlooked an easy step. I’m trying to focus on slow and steady.

I know many students, but have few friends. I’m included in school, but do not always feel accepted. There was no place for me on the cheerleading squad even though I was the flyer the past 2 years. I decided to try a couple of sports instead.

Different is just… unique. I want college, a career, success, family…you know… normal stuff, just like everyone else.”