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Marian Student with Autism Finds Path to Teaching

“As my middle school years drew to a close, I knew I wanted to be someone else’s Mrs. Miles.”

On April 9th, for Autism Awareness Month, sixth graders at Random Lake Middle School will hear about Autism from their student teacher, Mary Hammarlund, a senior at Marian University of Wisconsin with a Double Major in Elementary /Middle Education and Special Education. It’s a subject Hammarlund knows well.

“As a child, I faced significant challenges as a result of my autism,” said Hammarlund. “I had extreme sensory sensitivities – my anxiety was so severe, it impacted my functioning in school. I was very inflexible in my routine, and I experienced meltdowns.”

Fifth grade was especially difficult for Hammarlund, with the shift from elementary to middle school. But a special education teacher, Jodie Miles, at Sheboygan Falls Middle School, put her on a new path.

“Mrs. Miles’ philosophy was that ‘autism comes with gifts and we just have to wait and see what they are,’” said Hammarlund. “So when she worked with me, she pushed me to become the best version of me, without trying to change who I was.”

Hammarlund explains: “Mrs. Miles helped me come up with strategies so I could navigate life with a disability, gave me the tools I needed to be successful within the general education classroom, and advocated for my needs across the board. By the time I finished middle school, I was hardly recognizable as the same student I was when I started. I went from being so afraid of public speaking that I would not present to my class, even in a group – to taking on leadership roles, with public speaking.”

“Mrs. Miles drew out the best in me, but never made me feel like I was defective or lesser than my neurotypical peers,” said Hammarlund. “As my middle school years drew to a close, I knew I wanted to be someone else’s Mrs. Miles.”

In her Random Lake Middle School lesson, Hammarlund will cover characteristics someone with autism may have; explain the term “autism spectrum” and debunk misconceptions, such as autistic people do not have a sense of empathy or want to make friends.

“The big takeaway is they should get to know people, treat others the way they want to be treated, and accept people for who they are, autistic or not,” said Hammarlund. “I feel it’s especially important to have these conversations with middle schoolers, who are at an age where cliques are especially intense,” adding, “The hardest part of being autistic isn’t the disability itself, but the way I have been treated for my disability.”

Hammarlund will walk across the stage at Marian University’s Commencement on May 4th. “I feel like I have grown so much in just these past few years at Marian,” she said. “I am so much more likely to engage with a challenge rather than run from it, than when I first started.”

“Mary is an incredible success story,” said Dr. Sandra Cronin, Education Department Chair at Marian University. “We are thrilled to see her spread her wings and fly.”

Hammarlund appreciated that Marian placed her local classrooms in a supporting role, very early. “Learning how students learn and different learning theories has been invaluable, as teaching is so much more than just lecturing students on a specific topic,” said Hammarlund.

“Marian has a warm, welcoming atmosphere, plenty of growth opportunities inside and outside of classes, and amazing staff, dedicated to helping students reach their full potential.”

Marian University was founded in 1936 by the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, a group of pioneering sisters in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The university offers undergraduate, masters and adult learning degrees at its main campus and online.

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