April 2 is Autism Spectrum Awareness Day, and Parkville High School made sure all its students were understood and appreciated.A wall of art done by students on the spectrum, a selfie station for students to take pictures and biographies of the students helped their peers learn who they are."I want them to know that even though we have autism, we're the same, just like you. We just have our own ways of thinking," said 11th-grader Dorsey Keith.There are 70 students on the autism spectrum who attend Parkville. It's a feeder school with additional special education teachers and programs, such as the black and gold coffee shop which is operated by students on the spectrum and teaches job skills."Our students on the autism spectrum face challenges in the classroom with learning. A lot of them need accommodations, use of a calculator, they need help with reading sometimes, they have issues with social skills and that's something we work on in our program as well," said special education teacher Kelly Queen.Though children on the spectrum have their challenges, they said Parkville is empowering."I want to be a news reporter, talking about the forecast, weather and crime," said 10th-grader Spring Greer.According to Autism Speaks, autism affects boys four times more than it does girls.It was the sixth year Parkville High School held such an event. Students sold candles, T-shirts, bracelets and more, with proceeds from the sales benefiting the high school autism program and Maryland's Pathfinders for Autism.​

April 2 is Autism Spectrum Awareness Day, and Parkville High School made sure all its students were understood and appreciated.

A wall of art done by students on the spectrum, a selfie station for students to take pictures and biographies of the students helped their peers learn who they are.


"I want them to know that even though we have autism, we're the same, just like you. We just have our own ways of thinking," said 11th-grader Dorsey Keith.

There are 70 students on the autism spectrum who attend Parkville. It's a feeder school with additional special education teachers and programs, such as the black and gold coffee shop which is operated by students on the spectrum and teaches job skills.

"Our students on the autism spectrum face challenges in the classroom with learning. A lot of them need accommodations, use of a calculator, they need help with reading sometimes, they have issues with social skills and that's something we work on in our program as well," said special education teacher Kelly Queen.

Though children on the spectrum have their challenges, they said Parkville is empowering.

"I want to be a news reporter, talking about the forecast, weather and crime," said 10th-grader Spring Greer.

According to Autism Speaks, autism affects boys four times more than it does girls.

It was the sixth year Parkville High School held such an event. Students sold candles, T-shirts, bracelets and more, with proceeds from the sales benefiting the high school autism program and Maryland's Pathfinders for Autism.