I'm Open About Who I Am

People don't necessarily know people like me.  I try to show respect for who they are by putting myself in their position.  If people are going to understand people with autism of any level they have to see it from their perspective, and I admit, that isn't always easy to do.

My name is Jason Halkias.  I love to sing karaoke, I'm active in Special Olympics Iowa, and I work at a local YMCA here.  The number one reason I work is to help others.  Money is only the second reason.

I've been able to interact with a lot more people since I'm open about who I am. 

I've been able to interact with a lot more people since I'm open about who I am.  Nobody is perfect, not even a person without autism.  The weakness with me is not that I communicate, it's rather how I communicate.  I know sometimes what I want to say, and I mean it in good form, but there are instances where what I say could be a little offensive or could be a little wrong for the setting, and that's what I've been working on.

Each person with autism is different, but the common thing is that every one of them is intelligent in a different way. 

Each person with autism is different, but the common thing is that every one of them is intelligent in a different way.  It's just a lot of people may not realize that about every one of them.

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Watch a short video of Jason's story along with commentary from his employer and community, presented by Madison House Autism Foundation's #Imagine21 Series here: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonHouseAutismFoundation/videos/1292667967516445

Jason lives a very busy and active life. He works as a gym custodian at the YMCA, is a Special Olympics Iowa athlete, and even finds time to do karaoke several times a week.