AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ARMANI WILLIAMS, THE FIRST NASCAR DRIVER ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM

An Exclusive Interview with Armani Williams

the First NASCAR Driver on the Autism Spectrum

By Ron Sandison

I MET AND INTERVIEWED ARMANI WILLIAMS THIS YEAR AS I SHARE HIS REMARKABLE STORY IN MY THIRD BOOK, VIEWS FROM THE SPECTRUM: A WINDOW INTO LIFE AND FAITH WITH YOUR NEURODIVERGENT CHILD. I LOVE HIS PASSION FOR ADVOCACY AND HIS QUOTE, “TELL ME I CAN’T SO I CAN SHOW YOU THAT I CAN.”

This interview has been edited for Exceptional Needs Today.

SANDISON: What were your greatest challenges having autism?

WILLIAMS: I feel like my greatest challenge of having autism is communication and social interaction. All my life, I have been dealing with issues growing up, but I have managed to steadily improve those tactics, being a little more proactive around other people, and that’s going to help me in the long run as I continue to live my life with autism.

SANDISON: How old were you when you began to speak?

WILLIAMS: Good question; I can’t remember when I did. It’s been a long time since I was so little. I would say it was when I was two or three years old. It sometimes takes time before you can say your very first words.

SANDISON: Did you have any sensory issues? If so, how did you learn to overcome them?

WILLIAMS: Yes, I had some sensory issues, especially when I was young. And I still do today, but I have been able to reduce those issues and overcome them just by looking at my surroundings and knowing what’s going on in today’s world. When I hear or see something I don’t quite understand, I use the Internet and research things on Google to help me understand certain things I don’t know. The more I learn about different things, the easier it is for me to translate the information to my brain, and the next time it comes up, it’s like, “Oh, I have heard about this before,” or “Hey, I know what this is.”

One of the most critical aspects of rewarding positive behavior is immediacy. As soon as your child completes the required task, reinforce this behavior with the reward.

SANDISON: How did your parents encourage you to interact socially?

WILLIAMS: Yeah, so once it got to the point where I was more than comfortable being around other people, that’s when the next step came, which was to learn how to talk to and interact with people. My parents have been helping a lot teaching me the basics of having a conversation with someone, how to stay connected with them, how to meet people I have not met before, etc. My parents have been very supportive of me and without their help I don’t know how my life would have been today.

SANDISON: What sparked your interests in NASCAR driving?

WILLIAMS: That’s a good question…my interest in NASCAR driving started really young for me. I loved playing with one of my action figure cars as a kid and just play all day. When I heard about NASCAR, it sparked my interest up another level. I would watch NASCAR nonstop, and it amazed me how fast those cars were going, passing cars, and a winner getting a trophy at the end of the race. I found that pretty cool and awesome, and one day I told my dad straight up that was something I wanted to do when I grew up: I wanted to be a professional racecar driver.

SANDISON: How did you learn to drive a car?

WILLIAMS: I picked it up fairly early knowing about the gas and the brake pedals and the steering wheel. Once I learned how to use the basic parts while driving, it became very easy for me, and it has helped me excel through racing and getting a driver’s license.

SANDISON: What advice would you give to young adults with autism who fear learning how to drive?

WILLIAMS: I would tell them not to be afraid of learning something you haven’t done before. Once you learn the basics of working the steering wheel, working the gas and brake pedal comes next. If you can put in all that time hard work and commitment and put it to good use, I will tell you that it will become easier and you can really be more comfortable on the road, freeways, or even on the racetrack if you want to be a racecar driver.

SANDISON: What do you like best about racing?

WILLIAMS: I love the joy of being on the racetrack and going out there and compete for wins every time I strap into a race car. Just being around the racing environment is also what I love about it—it’s where I get to meet certain drivers, team

owners, racing officials, and even potential sponsors as well. It’s truly a racing community.

SANDISON: How has autism helped you as a racecar driver?

WILLIAMS: Good question. You know, being autistic I find this as an advantage for me because I’m so focused and concentrated behind the wheel. That goes with being consistent, smooth, and seeing the big picture leading up to the race, so I have put that all into good use, and it has really helped me develop as a pro racecar driver.

SANDISON: What are some of your favorite childhood memories?

WILLIAMS: My favorite childhood memories were when I first went to an actual NASCAR race for the first time. I was ten years old with my dad, and we decided to go to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I can remember sitting in the grandstands in turn and seeing the racetrack, the racecars, and the racing fans through my very own eyes and just thinking, “So this is what it’s like going to watch a race without seeing it on TV.” So you know, I had a blast and I enjoyed the race too.

SANDISON: What is your major in college?

WILLIAMS: I am studying mechanical engineering. It’s a hard major, but it’s the only thing that’s close to racing, so that’s what I am going to do.

SANDISON: What advice would you give to young adults with autism?

WILLIAMS: My advice to them would be if you have a dream to do something you love to do and be successful at, go for it. Don’t give up on your dream. Stay encouraged, believe in yourself, and work hard to do what you love to do.

SANDISON: Please share a humorous life story.

WILLIAMS: Okay, so one time, I was in a race in Elkhart County, Indiana, called New Paris Speedway. It was a 20-lap feature race under the lights, and I ended up winning my first ever

ARMANI WILLIAMS

BIRTHDATE: April 14, 2000 ROLE: American professional stock car racing driver. Competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 01 Ford and No. 12 Chevrolet for Fast Track Racing. First NASCAR driver openly diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

Full interview with Ron Sandison: YouTube race. I was so excited that I pulled out of the track and didn’t realize I had to go to the victory lane, so I come off, and people are coming to my car telling me, “Hey, you’ve got to go back on the track to celebrate,” and I’m like, “Oh shoot, I’ve got to get back over there!” I kind of laugh at myself for that. But I went back on the track, got the checkered flag, and received a winning trophy, so it was awesome.

Ron Sandison works full-time in the medical field and is a professor of theology at Destiny School of Ministry. He is an advisory board member of Autism Society Faith Initiative of Autism Society of America, the Art of Autism, and the Els Center of Excellence. Ron has a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University and is the author of A Parent’s Guide to Autism: Practical Advice, Biblical Wisdom published by Charisma House, and Thought, Choice, Action. He has memorized over 15,000 Scriptures, including 22 complete books of the New Testament. Ron speaks at over 70 events a year, including 20 plus education conferences. Ron and his wife, Kristen, reside in Rochester Hills, MI, with their daughter, Makayla.

Website: http://www.spectruminclusion.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpectrumRonSandison Email: sandison456@hotmail.com