George Yonoulis: A Fourth Grader with a Vision
When George Yonoulis, a nine-year-old fourth-grade student with autism, was asked to do a presentation about his condition, he didn’t hesitate to accept the challenge. His teacher believed that it would be beneficial for George’s classmates to understand his condition better, but George didn’t want to simply stand in front of the class and talk about autism. He had a much more creative and engaging idea in mind.
From Student to Filmmaker
George transformed himself into a film producer, creating his own music video as the presentation he was asked to make. Little did he know that his project would go viral on the internet, turning him into the latest YouTube sensation. George lives with his mother, Lisa Jolley, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The six-minute film short explains why George responds to people differently than most others do. It gives his classmates an insight into his struggles, showing them that he’s just a kid like the rest of them who enjoys having fun and doing many of the same things. The video also highlights some of the challenges that autism presents.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIK2yXfrCfw
Understanding and Empathy
Thanks to George’s video, his classmates now understand that he’s not being rude when he doesn’t respond right away. He has issues focusing on a single thought or sound at times, so now, perhaps, there will be a greater level of understanding. Things that are said to him don’t always come across the way they are intended, and the translations between what goes in his ears and what ends up in his brain can become distorted. When people understand why a person does the things they do, they are far more likely to be understanding and not become offended.
Bravery and Talent
George demonstrated immense bravery in making the video, and he also proved to the world that he’s a talented young man with a flair for filmmaking. His video has already received more than twenty-three thousand views on YouTube and counting. The video also inspires other kids who have issues that make them different in some way, teaching us all that it’s okay to be different.
A Lesson for Everyone
This young autistic filmmaker has taught us that people are people, and we’re all different in some way, but we don’t have to be the same to get along with one another. It’s best to avoid jumping to conclusions until we know why some people act the way they do. We miss out on some very valuable relationships by excluding those who aren’t just like us. The kids in George’s fourth-grade class have been privileged to learn these lessons early in life, and George is so open about it that he told them in the video that if they have any questions, they should just ask.
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