Hello. I am Sam Mitchell and I am the face of Autism Rocks and Rolls. My advocacy organization started when I was 16 and started a podcast, Autism Rocks and Rolls. I am now 21-years-old and still running the podcast. I was diagnosed with autism when I was 4. The podcast started as a hobby and I simply wanted the world to hear what I had to say about the emotional side of autism. Today, we are a federal 501c3 NonProfit, with a board of 9, and I am proud to be the Executive Director. We have the mission of destigmatizing autism and changing the language when talking about autism. We believe that all humans are differently-abled and those on the spectrum are talented, skillful, and have much to offer society. We want to be a part of the movement to change the negative way of thinking that often exists in our society.
Right now, I am in my third year of college, studying Broadcasting, living away from home. I continue to run the podcast, plan local events to spread my message, and am an international motivational speaker. To date, I have been a guest on almost 800 podcasts, am a TEDX speaker, an international speaker, and a podcaster that has had incredible guests with big platforms, such as 7 WWE wrestlers, Dr. Temple Grandin, NASCAR drivers, and many other episodes that are raw, authentic, and honest. I have over 100 episodes and I don’t plan to slow down. I plan local events to keep producing resources for the autism community. Myself and my mom, Gina, and President of my corporation, are aspiring authors and our first children’s book is in the hands of a publisher.
When I was growing up, my mother noticed a recurring reaction that others had when they found out that I had autism. They were sad for my family and I and often said, “Oh, I am so sorry.” We often thought (and probably said it aloud at times), “Why are you sorry? We’re not.” My family always believed that I was who I was and had skills that could be useful as I got older. They have never wavered from that thinking. I was held to a high standard, but my family and myself knew what my limitations were, but what my potential was. They looked at me as a typical child in that respect, always thinking, we all have limitations and potential. I was no different.
When I started talking into a microphone, people started listening…and…the rest is history.
The mission of Autism Rocks and Rolls is to take the stigma off of autism and other conditions that many think are disabilities. People on the spectrum are not broken and do not need to be fixed. Those who have conditions or abilities do not want to be pitied. There is nothing to be sorry about.
The vision of Autism Rocks and Rolls (ARAR) wants to work to help shift the conversation to inclusion. For far too long, people living with autism have been considered disabled, but ARAR believes that individuals on the spectrum do not need to be fixed. In order to change this common misconception, ARAR is working to develop media, educational, social, and medical content that works to achieve this goal.
As a corporation and board, we feel as though there is something missing when a parent receives the news that their child has autism, a person finds out they have autism, or a professional is talking to a person about autism. The conversation that is missing is that autism is brain wiring and can be celebrated. This is our mission and what we want to change.