"I have a big imaginative world — an entire planet," says K.P. Benton, 17. "My way of coping with things is to put them in my fictional world."

MASSILLON When Lisa Benton's son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) nearly 10 years ago, the possibility of him attending college wasn't on her mind.

Her son was 8 years old when he was diagnosed by doctors at Akron Children's Hospital. At the time, Benton was concerned with getting him the best care and support he needed to be successful at school and in social situations.

Two weeks ago, Kirkland "K.P." Benton received his college acceptance letter from Kent State University at Stark. Last week, the Benton family was informed his college tuition would be paid in full.

"He has overcome so much," Lisa Benton said of her son. "As far as being able to go to school, it was never even a thought on my radar. He didn't even talk until he was 5 years old."

April is Autism Awareness Month, and today is World Autism Awareness Day. Recognized annually on April 2, the day aims to promote understanding and acceptance of people on the spectrum.

Understanding

When K.P. Benton was in the first grade, he moved to Ohio with his family where he attended Tuslaw Local Schools. He moved to the Massillon City School District halfway through his sophomore year and is now a senior at Washington High School.

Some situations would cause Benton to feel overwhelmed or upset, leading to a meltdown, which included crying and speaking in an elevated tone. He would also have difficulty focusing and following directions.

During the 2016-17 school year, Massillon formed a special team of educators known as the District Autism Team to help meet the needs of students on the spectrum, said Allison Barnhart, student services support specialist. The team is made up of 10 employees, including intervention specialists, teachers, a school psychologist and an occupational therapist.

"We all have our different viewpoints," Barnhart said. "Everyone has their unique set of tools, and we can piece it together to help our students."

Whenever Benton feels overwhelmed, he knows where to find his team of supporters, including Barnhart. A sensory room is also available to him in times of stress. Benton is able to leave class a few minutes early to avoid the large crowd and chaos in the hallways during class changes.

Sometimes Benton would call his mom five times a day as a way to find comfort and calm down after an upsetting situation. Now, he rarely needs to call home for support.

"He's learned to hone in on these tools they've provided him," Lisa Benton said.

Over the years, K.P. Benton has learned to cope with some of his triggers. Laughing can sometimes be a trigger because Benton worries his peers are laughing at him or talking about him in a negative way. Large crowds and certain sounds like two objects scraping together also can be triggers.

Whenever he feels himself getting upset, Benton escapes to Alderã.

Acceptance

Benton sometimes lives in his own world. With a vivid imagination, he created the fictional planet he calls Alderã where he can escape everyday life. The planet is complete with a map of countries, a government and history.

The United Republic of Atmer, a country of Alderã, is loosely based on the United States, Benton said. Not only is it a coping mechanism whenever he find himself getting upset, but it's a potential layout of a video game he hopes to create one day.

"I have a big imaginative world — an entire planet," the 17-year-old said. "I have a lot of ideas flowing around me. Every person with autism is different. My way of coping with things is to put them in my fictional world."

This fall, Benton will begin classes at Kent State University at Stark where he will study computer design, animation and game design.

His interest in computers, video games and other electronics prompted him to explore game design as a career. Some of his favorite games have large settings where the character is free to explore, including Grand Theft Auto, Fallout and Skyrim.

Because it is a spectrum, no two people with autism are exactly alike. It bothers Benton whenever people make assumptions about ASD, he said.

Benton used a computer analogy to explain how someone without autism, referred to as a neurotypical, differs from someone on the spectrum. Someone with ASD doesn't have a processing error but has a different operating system or way of looking at the world, he said.

"Autism is not like how a 'normal' person would function," Benton said, using air quotes. "There isn't a mistake in the coding. We're on a completely different operating system."

Awareness

At least 15 years ago, a preschool teacher approached Melissa Wise about the possibility of her son having autism.

As a child, Brandon Wise didn't mind playing on his own. He avoided looking people in the eyes even during conversations, and he arranged his toys in a straight line. He learned to read by age 4 and preferred nonfiction books about animals.

After doing some research of her own, Melissa Wise took her son to Akron Children's Hospital where he was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, which is now under the umbrella term autism spectrum disorder as of 2013, according to Autism Society.

She placed him in sports when he was younger, and he continued sports in high school where he wrestled and played football for the Perry Panthers.

"It was good for him to be around kids at a young age," Melissa Wise said. "They all loved him, and they accepted him."

Brandon Wise, now 20, said many people don't know he is diagnosed with ASD unless he tells them.

Though he sometimes struggles with social cues and is generally a quiet person, he feels he has overcome those social challenges. Wise, a 2017 Perry High School graduate, is studying to be a veterinary technician at Ross College in Jackson Township. He will graduate with an associate degree in August.

"I knew I wanted a job surrounding animals but not something simple like working at a pet store," Wise said.

When her son was in school, Melissa Wise worried others might see him as odd. It wasn't unusual for Brandon Wise to distance himself from his classmates or teammates. He wasn't concerned about high school dances or the brand of his clothing.

Wise has high-functioning autism — a term used to describe someone with autism-like behaviors and difficulties with social and communication skills who had normal cognitive and language development, according to Autism Society.

Because of this, she worried people wouldn't understand him.

"It's a struggle we've had our whole life," Wise said. "He perceives the world so differently. His brain works a mile a minute."

Having an early diagnosis allowed the Wise family to learn more about autism and prepare before he started kindergarten. Through working with school officials, they were able to make adjustments to Wise's schedule to help him succeed academically and socially.

"He adjusted well," Melissa Wise said. "I'm thankful we did get a diagnosis before he went to school. That was so important and made it so much better."

Reach Samantha at 330-775-1133 or Samantha.Ickes@IndeOnline.com

On Twitter: @SickesINDE