Gaby is a 2021 graduate of MICC’s College program and a current participant in MICC’s Community program.
MICC graduate Gaby joined a recent episode of “Today’s Autistic Moment,” hosted by Philip King-Lowe! Gaby discussed the importance of having a strong community in the episode entitled, “Autistics Building Community and Friendships.”
Here are a few highlights from Gaby’s interview!
Philip: What was community and friendships like before you attended MICC, and how are they different now?
Gaby: Before MICC, especially in elementary school, I felt pretty isolated and didn’t have many strong friendships. And then I went to the Franklin Center, which was a little better. I started making some friends there, but when I came to MICC, that’s where I really found my community. I felt more accepted, and it became easier to connect with people who have probably been in the same shoes as I have.
Philip: What led you to tour and ultimately apply? What were you looking for that you couldn’t find elsewhere?
Gaby: Well, I knew that there’s no way that I would succeed in a transition program. So when I went to tour MICC, I saw, like a lot of people, like socializing in the student center, and even in the apartments, they weren’t like that, like those small dorm rooms, and they didn’t have the bathroom to you, where you had to, like, walk out in the freezing cold. So that was nice that they had those all included in the apartments. And even with some skills that you could still need support with, like cooking and cleaning and doing laundry, MICC will provide that stuff for you. And then, as you keep learning, so you have independent courses like on your schedule where you’d meet you and your roommates would have that at least twice a week. But then I think as you get the hang of it, you’re kind of on your own for laundry and even grocery shopping, and as for the cleaning and cooking staff would possibly come and check and check on that.
Philip: How did you start building community and finding those friendships at MICC?
Gaby: I started making those connections. Making small talk with people about, like, Hey, what are you into? What are you doing this evening? And do you want to watch a movie? Hey, there’s a social going on. Do you want to come join me? So with our socials, when you find people there, you’ll probably get to find people that like to do the same things as you.
Philip: There’s the diversity of Neurodivergence, which is very, very important. And how do you and other participants at MICC get to know each other and support each other’s needs when they’re all so different?
Gaby: So I actually like the word Neurodivergent like at MICC, because not everybody that comes to MICC has Autism. They could also have different sensory or learning needs, um, if they can kind of learn that when you are especially living with someone, like, you want to be mindful, like you don’t never know what the what somebody is going through and something like that. Whether it’s like a tough time or just something in their life that they just can’t seek to control.
Hear more of Gaby and Philip’s conversation about community and friendships in the full episode here.