Jiung sits next to you in your math class. He’s a really nice kid and always tries to make conversation with you, even if you don’t always respond.

You have autism. You can get overwhelmed easily, especially at school, and when you do, sometimes you go non-verbal.

Today, you had a substitute teacher in math. You sat at your desk with your headphones on, doodling in your sketchbook as your substitute teacher told the class about her expectations for the day. She saw you and started walking over to you, stopping beside your desk.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

She asked. You looked up at her, not saying anything.

“I just told you my rules, and you’re already breaking them. I need you to put your art away and take those headphones off.”

She spoke to you firmly. Again, you didn’t respond, now feeling a bit stressed out.

“Hello? I’m talking to you! You can’t just ignore an adult while they’re talking to you!”

The teacher exclaimed. You felt like you were about to cry, before Jiung spoke up.

“Uh- excuse me, miss…?”