This is my little sister, Alice. She is ten years old. She is strong, capable, articulate, funny, and has the kindest, warmest heart. Alice has a disability. Sometimes, she finds certain things challenging, like trying new things, being around lots of people, failing, communicating and making decisions. Her brain often plays tricks on her, and the things she is thinking don't always come out right.

Sometimes, other people don't understand, and sometimes they don't even try to understand. They just think, "oh, Alice has Autism, so she isn't like us. She won't be able to do the same things that we can". Alice doesn't like it when people assume her abilities. No one likes it when people assume their abilities.

But it happens, all the time.

People hear the term, "disabilities" and only hear the "dis". They let it determine their entire judgement of that person. They stop trying to understand, and they give up on showing them any respect. They only notice the things that they cannot do.

What they fail to notice though, is that Alice is just like everyone else. She is no different to anyone in her class at school, to anyone on her soccer team, or to anyone in our family. She is perfectly capable of achieving everything that anyone else can. She just needs some help sometimes. She doesn't deserve any less respect than anyone else.

She is bold. She is independent. She is Autistic.

I think that's amazing.