An Aunt’s Mission, Inspired by Her Niece
Yvette Beshier’s efforts to educate others about autism is based on a simple concept:
If they understand it, they can accept it.
Beshier spends a lot of time with her autistic niece Kylah Christine, who is 32. Kylah was the inspiration for Beshier’s 2022 book, I’m Autistic and I’m Fantastic. She also inspired Beshier to sign up as an Autism New Jersey Ambassador. Beshier has handed out pamphlets and bookmarks, organized a walk in West Orange, and set up a table at her work to help spread awareness. She has posted Autism New Jersey’s “I Love Someone With Autism Badge” on her social media, along with photos of her with Kylah.
From the book description on Amazon: “Kylah is a young person with autism who loves to explore the world and learn new things, but most of all, Kylah loves the word "Fantastic" and giving High-Fives.”
Kylah, according to Beshier, also loves talking, going out to the park and watching plays, being on the computer, and arts and crafts. She loves looking up which celebrity died that day and then calling her Aunt Yvette to fill her in.
“She does what she does and she’s gonna do it,” Beshier said about her niece. It’s not Kylah that has to change, Beshier said; it’s the community that needs to learn about and understand her differences.
