Zoom Autism Magazine Issue 7 | Page 20

crowd cheered. Whenever a crowd from the other team would boo, I loved it because it meant I was doing a good job of playing hard and getting into my opponents’ heads. Plus, it also motivated me to again show the crowds what I can do and prove them wrong. Conner: What did you do to become successful despite being bullied and listening to what others say? Autism and Anti-Bullying now for over three years, and it’s something that I really love and enjoy doing. All of the great places, communities I get to visit and people I get to meet are truly what makes my job awesome. More importantly, the feedback that I get from schools, students and parents is what makes my job even better. The conversations I have with students after I present in schools are great to hear and for them to open up to someone like myself is truly a blessing and shows that I’m doing my job, which is to make an impact and leave an impact even if it’s only on one person. At the end of the day, we don’t dream our lives ... WE LIVE THEM!!! Anthony: Right when I graduated from Michigan State in 2012 is when I really started to hit my peak in life. Plus, the more and more that bullies and doubters kept doubting me and trying to bring me down, the more and more motivated I became to prove them wrong and show people up. It was the bullies and doubters who fueled me every day to prove the world wrong and show them that someone like myself can go far in life and live their dreams no matter what the obstacle is in life. I have been a national motivational speaker for The message I have for kids, parents, sports teams, etc. around the country is L.Y.D., which stands for Live Your Dreams. It’s something that I encourage every person around the country to do, to live their dreams and accomplish every goal that they have set in life NO MATTER the obstacle. I was told as a young kid that I wasn’t going to achieve anything in life because I was born with autism, but I wasn’t going to let anyone determine my future because I determine my own fate in life. At the end of the day, we don’t dream our lives … WE LIVE THEM!!! To learn more about Anthony and his story or to book him for a presentation, visit his website. You can also follow him on Facebook and Twitter. Conner Cummings is a 23-year-old autistic advocate who has a passion for photography, ice skating, piano and Disney. In 2015 he won the Advocate of the Year award by the Autism Society of America for his participation in changing a parental support law in VA which is now named after him – Conner’s Law. You can follow Conner on Facebook and Twitter. Experience the TGS difference! Temple Grandin School is more than just a school - it’s a community. We provide a safe, supportive environment where students can transcend their labels, grow from their strengths, and soar to heights they never thought possible. Serving students in grades 6-12 with Asperger’s or similar learning profiles. Now enrolling for 2015-2016! To learn more, visit http://templegrandinschool.org 20 ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses 21