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Girl With Autism Tells Fellow Students 'I Am Like You' In Powerful Speech

"A person who has autism has a brain that works differently [from] a typical brain. Neither is better -- they are just different."
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By 

Asian-American Affairs Reporter, HuffPost

One girl broadcasted some perspective to her fellow students. 

Keira Meikus, a 9-year-old student at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School in Homewood, Alabama, was diagnosed with autism when she was 4 years old, ABC News reported.

In honor of April's Autism Awareness Month, the fourth-grader recently delivered a powerful speech regarding her condition to the entire student body during the morning announcements. 

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Keira Meikus, delivering her speech earlier this month.
Sarah and Greg Charles

"I have autism. I am like you. ... I like music and playing with my friends. I am also different [from] you," the 9-year-old said in her speech. "I can't speak for everyone who has autism, but I'm sure that most want what every typical person wants -- to be accepted and to belong. Autism is just part of who we are."

In her speech, Keira explained that the disorder is on a spectrum:

"A person who has autism has a brain that works differently [from] a typical brain. Neither is better -- they are just different," she said. "There is a spectrum, like a number line. One person with autism may be like a 1 on the spectrum so you only notice a little difference, but someone else may be a 10 with lots of differences."

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Keira's empowering speech.
Sarah and Greg Charles

She also told her fellow students how she's individually affected by the disorder. 

"Some noises hurt me, I flap my hands when I get excited or overwhelmed," she said in her speech. "I don't always make eye contact when I should, and I don't always know when someone is being serious or joking."

Ultimately, her goal was to get students to become aware and more accepting of those with autism. And according to principal Mary Jane Dorn, that's exactly what the speech did. 

"She is an amazing little girl, and our students have been just as amazing in accepting Keira," Dorn told The Huffington Post. "We wanted our students to understand more about autism and to understand their classmate's story. It has helped her classmates understand some of her behaviors."

The 9-year-old's message has since moved people beyond the walls of her school. Various media outlets have picked up the fourth-grader's speech and Dorn hopes that Keira's story will uplift others with autism. 

"We hope all the media coverage will not only serve to inspire, but will also empower those who are affected by autism."

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Before You Go

What Autism Means
(01 of26)
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At first autism meant "scary" to our family. As time went on autism became normal. The littlest things like your child eating a new food puts you in a good mood and warrants a brag post on Facebook! (credit:Andrea Reynolds)
(02 of26)
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It means seeing the world through a different set of lenses. (credit:Aimee Heintz)
(03 of26)
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It would take at least a dozen pictures. Him reading a book at 3-years-old, even though no one taught him how. Crying because the sun hurts his eyes or his brothers were just too loud. Laughing. Snuggling. Riding his bike. He has taught us so much. He is truly our sunshine. (credit:Erika Strojny Myers)
(04 of26)
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Our daughter has Down syndrome and autism and is a small piece of the puzzle. Autism means a little more unique than the rest... (credit:Liz O'Neill DeSantis)
(05 of26)
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Autism is enjoying swings, rides and slides! (credit:Bree Beers)
(06 of26)
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Autism means your child can be your hero. (credit:Nikki Walling)
(07 of26)
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Autism to me means cherishing every milestone, every bite of food, every babble, every time my son points to something to share interest, every hug, every kiss. We rejoiced when he would tolerate eating a sucker! It was a big deal! Literally every moment or stride brings me joy and hope. (credit:Denisse Edwards)
(08 of26)
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To our family autism means compassion and patience. It inspires me to see the uniqueness in all children, even "typical" kids. (credit:Timil Jones)
(09 of26)
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Autism means building from our strengths and what brings us joy. (credit:Johannah Maynard Edwards)
(10 of26)
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Taking family vacations like everyone else. (credit:Autumn J)
(11 of26)
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Autism means that moments like these are rare and treasured and completely unforgettable. (credit:Leah Soderberg)
(12 of26)
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Autism means looking at the world through a magnificent set of lenses that only he can provide. (credit:Megan Kuecher)
(13 of26)
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Autism is celebrating the accomplishments that others overlook -- even something as simple as touching sand! (credit:Karen LaSalle)
(14 of26)
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Autism means sometimes she wants a big hug -- just not from her mommy. Autism means understanding all her nonverbal cues and never taking it personally. (credit:Carey Struss Pruett)
(15 of26)
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It means never having the socially accepted "appropriate" answer, but always being a delightful surprise and a ray of fresh sunshine. Also it means hating babies but loving his little brother unconditionally. (credit:Tricia Lewis)
(16 of26)
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It means taking a completely different path on the journey you had in your mind, all while learning that beauty is nothing like you ever imagined, it's better. (credit:Amanda Webster)
(17 of26)
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Autism to us means knowing that not everyone will understand and that's OK. (credit:Aleana Lopez)
(18 of26)
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Autism means learning and changing. I never expected to be here, but I will do everything I can to help my son. (credit:Nicole Baum)
(19 of26)
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Autism means that it's not going to be how I thought it would be. It means taking a different path than most. It means I will hold his hand and walk with him through whatever struggle we face or success we have. (credit:Amanda Gutierrez-Taylor)
(20 of26)
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Autism means finding joy in each and every accomplishment! Autism means challenges, loving so much it hurts, growth, setbacks, memorizing every line from a movie, picky eating, laughing, innocence. This kid's future is so bright that he needs his shades indoors. (credit:Megan O'Neill)
(21 of26)
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It means the rules change every day, food usually doesn't get eaten, and I was lucky enough to give birth to the bravest Superman I've ever known. (credit:Dympna Calandro)
(22 of26)
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To us, autism means not assuming that ASD kids are unhappy or un-bonded to their families. Drew is the sweetest, kindest, most loving little boy. In our life, autism means getting stuck in every entrance door because Drew has a fixation on doors. It also means protecting our sweet baby from the mean people who have cussed at him when he's had a meltdown in public. (credit:Jackelyn Eller)
(23 of26)
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It's about living out loud; he never censors himself to make anyone feel more comfortable, he is unapologetically himself. When you're a freshman and your sister is a senior and she takes you as her date to the winter formal, that's a pretty fantastic thing. Sure, he may have both Down syndrome AND autism, but he's also got some killer dance moves; neither diagnosis defines him. (credit:Jayne Schroeder)
(24 of26)
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It means we learn to take on this crazy world in a whole different way together, we teach each other and the people around us to think and learn a different and unique way. My favorite saying: " I would not change you for the world, but I would change the world for you" (credit:Jess Winter Rivers)
(25 of26)
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I believe autism means to have more patience and be more patient and to have an open mind for new ideas to overcome challenges. I believe every child has a story, they are unique and beautiful in their special ways. (credit:Michelle Lora)
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We are a military family with two beautiful boys on the spectrum and to us autism is just love. (credit:Jessi Henry)
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