SELF ADVOCATES

MEET MICHELLE UNRUH: Advocating for Bullying Awareness

BY MICHELLE UNRUH

My name is Michelle. I am 34 years old and on the autism spectrum. I was bullied severely from the time I started school at 4 years old until I graduated from high school. It was a very sad time for me and my family. All this bullying happened to me because I was different. But I continued to stay positive and help others despite what I was going through. I won many citizenship awards and was always known for my smile and no-give-up attitude during school!

When I graduated from high school I still didn’t feel like I quite fit in anywhere. I didn’t have many friends and didn’t know what my purpose was. But I always enjoyed following stories of people who inspired me. When Covid hit in 2020, a friend said to me that I should try coloring to stay busy. I thought no, I couldn’t. I struggled with fine motor skills problems since age 4. I couldn’t hold onto a pencil and went through lots of occupational therapy for that. Then I thought about it more and how I really needed to keep busy so I tried [coloring] a couple of small pictures and thought, “this isn’t too bad.”

That’s when it hit me. I had found my purpose. I started an autism awareness page on Facebook and started coloring pictures for others who inspired me and to cheer others up.

For quite a few years I had been following the story of Julianne Miszk. She was a successful para-athlete and a very kind giving lady even while fighting bone cancer in her jaw. She was a true inspiration to me. She never gave up even while struggling with a disability and cancer! I decided I wanted to color her a picture, so I reached out to her mom. She said yes, Julianne loves butterflies and fairies, and I colored her a butterfly picture. Julianne received it two days before she passed away! I sadly never got to meet her but the best thing that came out of what I did for her is that she gave me the gift of friendship with her family and friends!

I now have an amazing group of friends that I never had. I continue to be a strong advocate against bullying, and in October of 2021, I was interviewed on an autism perspective channel for Bullying Awareness Month!

I now make bracelets and have donated money to a foundation called Kids Help Phone. It is a helpline for children to talk with counselors if they’re going through a traumatic event in their life. I’ve even reconnected with past teachers who always believed in me and told them what I went through has made me stronger.

I also continue to be an autism advocate; my Facebook page recently hit 700 followers! I hope someone reading my story will have the strength to not give up if they are being bullied. I’m thankful for strong family and friend support that never let me give up!

That’s when it hit me. I had found my purpose. I started an autism awareness page on Facebook and started coloring pictures for others who inspired me and to cheer others up.

I now have an amazing group of friends that I never had. I continue to be a strong advocate against bullying, and in October of 2021, I was interviewed on an autism perspective channel for Bullying Awareness Month!