Lydia Wayman is an accomplished professional, holding both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees and is a published author. She has achieved these successes despite navigating a world that was not conducive to recognizing the strengths and supporting the needs of neurodivergent individuals. Wayman, is now using her own experience to make a difference in the lives of others. She recalls, “My school years were not easy. I was a very good student, but I struggled, often in ways that weren’t obvious. I learned to internalize what I was feeling and perform, but over time, it broke me down. I don’t blame my teachers or the schools—the world just didn’t understand autism at that time, and I didn’t understand myself or have the ability to communicate what I was experiencing.”

In 2014, Wayman was put in touch with Cristina Rouvalis who was looking for a coauthor. Wayman recalls that Rouvalis conceived a “a dual point-of-view middle grade book with two very different girls, one autistic and cat-obsessed the other a fashion-loving social butterfly.” The two made a complementary pair. Wayman explains, “Writing the book was a true joint effort. Even though it’s a dual point-of-view book, both of us were behind every word.” Together they penned, Snoopers & Sneakers, a middle grade book which follows Jane, a fact-loving girl with autism, and Ashley, a former popular kid who loses her social status after refusing to cover for her best friend. When their beloved teacher Miss DiMicco is wrongly accused of theft, the two very different girls team up to prove her innocence. Along the way, they navigate their clashing personalities and unexpected friendship while working to restore the teacher they both adore.

Wayman reflects, “My favorite thing about our book is that it teaches people about perspective-taking. Most conversations about autism awareness focus on what autism looks like from the outside – how other people experience it. And you do get that perspective in our book; half the chapters are in Ashley’s voice, so they portray her perspective of Jane, the autistic character. You can see how Jane appears to others and why she stands out. But in Jane’s chapters, you get a chance to see what autism is like from the perspective of the person experiencing it”

Each of us can educate ourselves about the variety of perspectives and experiences in the world. Wayman explains, “It’s important to learn about it from the people who experience it and to listen to a variety of voices, because every neurodivergent and even every autistic person is different. There are advocates who represent all hues of the autism spectrum, including those who are non-speaking, those with additional diagnoses like ADHD or intellectual disabilities, and those who are raising children themselves. If you’re looking for a place to start, pick up Snoopers & Sneakers! Jane doesn’t represent every autistic person, as no one character or person can, but her voice and her story are authentic.”

Wayman is contributing to a world that is more understanding and aware of the needs of students both through her writing and advocacy. In April, Wayman will visit students at her former school, Burchfield Primary. “Speaking to kids, especially teaching them about autism, is my one of my favorite things about being an author. It’s what I’ve dreamed of doing for many years. As a child, I often felt overwhelmed and misunderstood, including at school, so I deeply appreciated the opportunity to return with a message that I needed to hear and needed the people around me to hear,” she says. Wayman encourages students, “Your life doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s to have value and meaning. We all have strengths and weaknesses, and sometimes a trait can serve you well in some ways but not in others. Learn to define yourself beyond what you can or can’t do. Even your abilities can become limiting if you don’t learn who you are beyond the things that people see as valuable. Learn to appreciate the strengths in others, especially when they’re different from yours.”

Cristina Rouvalis and Lydia Wayman (Photo credit: Matthew Garland)