UTC’s annual Reverse Career Fair on April 5 brought together students on the autism spectrum and local employers. Photo by Angela Foster.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Mosaic program, part of the Disability Resource Center, is focusing on supporting and uplifting autistic voices through participation in Autism Acceptance Month.
For example, during the annual Reverse Career Fair, students on the autism spectrum set up stationary booths highlighting their skills and personalities. Employers walk around and make the first connections.
“With the business partners initiating conversation, that takes out the social barrier that a lot of people on the spectrum might have. It’s just a more sensory-friendly space for them to do that,” Mosaic Career Coordinator Kathy Melton said.
Mosaic is now introducing its first Autistic Voices Panel, taking place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, in the University Center Tennessee Room. Six of the program’s students will talk about their experiences with autism.
For faculty and staff, Mosaic Campus Coordinator Hayleigh Weissenbach hopes that the panel gives them more knowledge of what autistic students go through and inspires them to become more inclusive. She wants students to help build an “autism-confident community” that recognizes that differences are OK.
“You should become an ally and an advocate in your daily life, not just in moments that matter, because every moment can matter with our students,” Weissenbach said.
Started with the specific needs of students on the autism spectrum in mind, Mosaic provides them with academic and career assistance.
“We just want to give them a holistic and authentic experience while they are here at the University and to prepare them—their self-advocacy, their autonomy—for when they do graduate. This is a pivotal moment to let their voices be heard,” Melton said.
The Autistic Voices Panel participants will include Kirk Lazenby, Ella Dunkelberger, India Wolfenberger, Thomas Smith, Adam Tepper and emcee Davidson Dill.
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Kirk Lazenby
Lazenby, a sociology and anthropology double major, hopes that the audience finds the panel illuminating and informative.
“My sincere hope is that anyone who attends will leave with a better understanding of our strengths, our challenges and a few ideas about how they can be a better ally to our community,” he said.
“I would like to highlight the power of embracing change even when it is difficult, perseverance, growing one’s resilience, and would like to demonstrate that autistic people actually have an amazing capacity for empathy.”
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Ella Dunkelberger
Dunkelberger, a psychology major with a minor in childhood and family studies, said that the panel’s objective is to enhance the community’s understanding of autism.
“I firmly believe that it’s not just the responsibility of autistic individuals to share their experiences but also the duty of the community to listen and learn,” she said. “By hearing directly from us, the community can gain a deeper understanding of the various ways autism can manifest and witness our resilience in our daily lives.”
She said that the panelists are striving to provide a comprehensive understanding of autism.
“I want to show that accepting your autism diagnosis is hard and still can be challenging for autistic individuals to accept, but advocating and sharing personal stories can show that they are not alone.”
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India Wolfenberger
Wolfenberger, a sport, outdoor recreation and tourism management major, hopes the audience walks away knowing that autistic people are not broken.
“Our disability helps us think out of the box in a way that others cannot, which I feel is glossed over a lot by the negative connotations surrounding it,” she said.
Wolfenberger, who received an autism diagnosis at the age of 18, wants to emphasize the significance of receiving a diagnosis early on because it “feels like you are getting a whole new personality.”
“I want a world where autistic people—and neurodivergent people in general—no longer have to mask and can be themselves without neurotypicals passing judgment,” she said.
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Reverse Career Fair photo gallery by Angela Foster
