Monmouth County Man With Autism Promotes Disability Inclusion, Acceptance

FREEHOLD, NJ — Freehold resident Tim Rohrer knows what it feels like to be excluded.

As a young man with autism, Rohrer, 24, said he was often isolated and bullied throughout his childhood and school experience.

After graduating high school, Rohrer went on to write a guide on how to treat people with disabilities and has since become a Disability Inclusion Advocate, traveling across the state to share his story with schools and promote acceptance and inclusion.

“It makes me sad that people with disabilities being isolated is the norm,” Rohrer told Patch. “And I feel like regular students need education on how to include their peers with disabilities.”

Since starting his work as a Disability Inclusion Advocate, Rohrer has spoken at over 150 schools, the NJEA Teacher’s Convention, the Autism NJ Conference, the NJ School Boards Convention, and the NJ Coalition for Inclusive Education, Professional Development Workshops and Corporate America.

In addition, Rohrer has penned two children’s books; “Timmy’s Story: A Story About Autism and Friendship” and “Timmy’s Story: A Sensory Friendly Birthday.”

According to Rohrer, speaking with students, teachers and staff throughout the state helps with his mission for people to not just be aware of disabilities, but learn how to include disabilities as part of their day-to-day lives.

While people often talk about autism awareness, Rohrer said autism acceptance is another part of the conversation that's, at times, neglected.

“If they [those with disabilities] feel different from you, don’t be afraid of them,” Rohrer said. “They may have a disability, but they want to be treated like everyone else. Get to know them, invite them to your lunch table, invite them to your place or gathering.”

Amy Rohrer, Tim’s mother, said watching Tim grow through his advocacy work has been amazing to watch.

While she handles outreach, social media and behind-the-scenes work for Tim, she said he gets “better and better” at his work each time she watches him speak.

“He’s just a natural at it,” Amy said. “Not just the presenting, but the questions thrown at him. He always has a Q&A session with children, older students and even adults, and he always has a lot of really good advice and things to say.”

“Just living the life of having autism and what that feels like, he knows better than a lot of people who just go to school for it because he’s a person who’s lived that life,” Amy continued. “So going with him, doing this advocacy work — we’ve kind of grown it together.”

As Rohrer continues to speak at schools and events throughout the state, he said he’s happiest when he’s able to speak with students one-on-one and teach them how to include their peers with disabilities.

For Amy, watching her son teach and make those connections with students brings her happiness too.

“Just seeing the connections he makes with students — those who have autism or those without disabilities trying to make connections with those that do — it’s the most amazing thing for me to see,” Amy said. “He’s almost like a celebrity, you know? Kids are high-fiving him, kids are running up to him for hugs.”

“It’s just about bringing a climate of acceptance, where everybody’s part of everything," Amy continued. "It shouldn’t be that we still have to teach that, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

To learn more about Tim, you can visit his Instagram page or email him at Tips4Inclusion2018@gmail.com.