Today we’d like to introduce you to Hallie Hovey-Murray.
Hi Hallie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I founded the Autism Success Foundation the summer after my first year of law school. ASF was founded with the purpose of equipping students with Autism with scholarships and supports to pursue their higher educational objectives. Unfortunately, students with Autism are much less likely to attend and graduate from college than are their peers. ASF strives to provide resources and scholarships to empower the next generation of leaders with Autism to achieve their educational and career goals. We also work through school and community programming to educate on misconceptions around Autism. Speaking to students and community groups, we are able to demonstrate how lowered expectations and misconceptions around Autism create harmful stigmas. People shouldn’t be shocked to see people with Autism in leadership positions or in prominent positions in the workforce, and we aim to showcase this in our community presentations.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a nonprofit organization from the ground up is always a challenge- especially as an entirely volunteer-led organization- but thankfully, I was so fortunate to recruit and cultivate a board of Directors who are dedicate and passionate about ASF’s mission.
During COVID, we had to work really hard to adapt our programming and to find new ways to fundraise safely and virtually. We were able to partner with Small Miracles to develop a fundraiser to provide clear-panel masks to schools and educators, making school more accessible for students with disabilities and allowing us to continue our scholarship program. This was possible thanks to our community of supporters and donors.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our mission is what sets the Autism Success Foundation apart. We are so passionate about students with Autism not only getting by but attaining success in whatever they are passionate about. Too often, people treat people with Autism in a demeaning or dismissive way. We work to empower the students we work with to see themselves as valuable, worthy, and prepared for whatever challenges come their way. I was told so many times that a career in which great communication skills are a necessity was out of reach for me. I worked each and every day to ensure that I proved them wrong.
The lessons we work to teach go beyond preparing for college readiness, they include practicing grace, empathy, and self-advocacy. As someone with Autism, I am acutely aware of how harmful it is when you are tokenized or reduced by those who fail to see you beyond their misconceptions. As an attorney and a business owner, I’ve become accustomed to politely (but firmly) addressing situations where people are patronizing or dismissive of me. Through ASF, I work to teach the students we serve to advocate for themselves and to not be afraid to stand up for themselves: even when it’s hard or easier not to. I’ve definitely had to personally work to overcome my desire to “people please” because I dealt with ostracism growing up. However, even if it’s hard, it’s so important to stand up for yourself, your experiences, and your successes. Teaching students to take ownership of all they’ve achieved and to be proud of that is really important to me, because so often they are told what they can’t or shouldn’t do and not all they can achieve. Teaching them that when someone treats you as less than worthy, it’s important to politely but firmly communicate this to them and provide correction if they misattribute your successes or don’t credit your experiences. On the same token, it’s also important to be willing to listen to others and take ownership and accountability for mistakes. No one is perfect, and learning to handle our missteps and apologize in an authentic way is critical for growth.
I strive to teach the students I work with through ASF these hard lessons: too often, people expect too little from people with Autism while simultaneously holding them a higher standard than they would others. ASF works to equip them to break through the barriers created by stigmas and misconceptions surrounding Autism and to excel in spite of them.
What do you think about happiness?
Seeing the students we work with find success. Hearing their stories about things they’ve accomplished in college always makes me smile. I also love presenting to students and getting to hear their questions during presentations: kids are always truly unafraid to be inquisitive and I love seeing that firsthand!
Contact Info:
- Email: autismsuccessfoundation@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/Autismsuccessfoundation
- Instagram: @autismsuccessfoundation
