Inter-Lakes student initiative aims for autism awareness, inclusion

MEREDITH — Braden Housden wants to show the world someone with autism can achieve just as much as the next person.

This spring, the Inter-Lakes High School student created an initiative called Light It Up Blue, where the school community dressed in blue to spread awareness about autism, while encouraging inclusion.

“April was Autism Awareness Month, and I was thinking about doing something for autism acceptance,” Housden said. “I couldn’t figure out an idea, and when I was searching, I saw Light It Up Blue Day, which caught my interest.”

According to Autism Speaks, Light It Up Blue is held annually, though not the same day as it was held at Inter-Lakes. It’s a way to start a conversation about autism by wearing blue, and Housden decided to model it off this national venture by asking school leaders to help him get the word out.

On April 24, the day before April break, students wore blue, and staff distributed blue glow bracelets as people entered the building.

“I thought it would be a good way to get the school involved,” Housden said.

Housden is in a group at Inter-Lakes called Getting to the Y, which looks at data compiled from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted statewide. Data points are about sexual health, alcohol, drugs and bullying. Housden said the group looks at data from across the state and sees where Inter-Lakes fits in.

The group looked at the results and brainstormed ideas with teachers about what can be done to spread awareness on different subjects, in an effort to make the school a better place overall.

This is where the idea of bringing Light It Up Blue to Inter-Lakes was born.

“I wanted to aim at spreading awareness for autism, acceptance and that sort of thing,” Housden said. “It fits with the whole ethos of the group.”

What started as an initiative for the high school, Housden said the idea continued to evolve into something he hoped would be districtwide. He contacted Rick Biche, principal at Inter-Lakes Elementary School, and while he couldn’t get the glow bracelets to them on time, he said many students and staff did wear blue. Superintendent Mary Moriarty, School Board Chair Charley Hanson, and staff in the district office also wore blue to recognize the effort, and take part in the initiative.

“I thought the school leadership getting involved was cool,” Housden said.

Housden said there wasn’t much talk about autism in the past, but he thought it would be cool if his idea started a chain reaction with other schools in the Lakes Region to get involved, too.

“It could become a whole thing, catch on, and spread awareness and acceptance,” Housden said. “I’m hoping other schools see this and think it is cool, and something to check out.”

Being someone with autism himself, Housden said the response made him feel good, considering the support and acceptance involved. He said autistic people can often be misunderstood.

“Yes, it is a disability, but we are perfectly able to do things that people without autism are able to do,” Housden said. “We are able to do a lot of things people might — because of a preconceived notion — think that we can’t do.”

Housden hopes awareness clears up misperceptions of autism. His goal is to actively educate people. He said society is so wrapped up with labels, when in reality, “we are all people.”

“In the grand scheme of things, we aren’t so different,” Housden said. “We do have difficulties, we do, but we still can do a lot of great things if given the proper shot.”

His mother, Amanda Housden, said it was so cool as a parent to see everyone respond the way they did. She said for a few years, Braden had been commenting to her, questioning why Autism Awareness Month hadn’t been recognized or celebrated.

“It is super important to him,” Amanda said. “Braden has autism, but he doesn’t want to be defined by that. His whole thing is looking at everybody like they are people.”

She said he’s the type of person who really loves community and being involved, and also trying to better the world around him. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he and his sister were excited to go around the neighborhood and pick up trash.

“He has done small things in the past, but nothing to this scale,” Amanda Housden said. “Inclusion is the main goal. He doesn’t want anyone to be seen as a general label.”

She said the students, staff and parents were all excited, and some parents even made shirts for other children who had autism.

“For me, that was what it was all about,” Amanda said. “It was so cool to see the community so excited about this.”

Amanda Downing, principal at Inter-Lakes Middle High School, agreed Light It Up Blue was well received by the school community, and she was proud to be part of it.

“Braden organized the entire event through collaboration with myself and Mr. Biche at ILES,” Downing said. “We handed out blue neon bracelets at the door, and students and staff wore blue to show support for autism awareness. We are proud of Braden and his advocacy.”

Housden hopes to make Light It Up Blue a yearly endeavor, even after he has graduated.

Big things are happening for Housden. He just got his license, and his first car is a Subaru Forrester; a blue one. He will turn 18 in August, and his mother is immensely proud of her son, who has reached a level of independence that means so much to the whole family.

“He has known what he wants to do all his life, and he is on that track,” Amanda Housden said.

Housden is wrapping up his third year of high school, and has his eyes on high education. He’s been looking at Saint Anselm College, and the University of New Hampshire. It's not out of the realm of possibility he’ll end up outside the Granite State.

“Anything with a good political science program,” Housden said. “I would like to run for political office, maybe do a presidential run, and see where we can go with that. Aim high.”