When St. Joseph, Michigan, native Kristin Wier was a senior in college, she took a service learning trip that led to her living in a home with four women who were on the autism spectrum.
That experience, she said, blew her away.
While her new roommates would not answer questions or make eye contact with her, Kristin said they would sing at seemingly random times.
One of the women spoke only to say “grace” at dinner.
“There were so many things about it that I found interesting. I wanted to learn more about them,” said Kristin, explaining it was her first hands-on experience with people diagnosed with autism.

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