As January rolls around each year, many of us tend to approach it with excitement to begin something anew. Often it centers around starting a new hobby, or something to better ourselves or our bodies, like exercise. But what about choosing an internal beginning? What would that look like?
This year has been the most challenging yet most fulfilling I have ever had. I have learned more about self-regulation and have gotten better at it. I have made new friends and created a sense of belonging in groups like Forging Friendships, FF Bookclub, and, of course, Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network (S&A)! I am thrilled to be surrounded by friends who are like-minded yet distinct in their own gifts and thoughts. We share, however, what is most important to my heart…advocating for non-speakers rights and spreading the truth about autism, as well as supporting each other along our journeys. We all contribute, and each voice is heard and considered important. I know groups like S&A, where inclusion, open-mindedness, and mutual respect are core values, are hard to come by in our society today. I have been doing presentations alone since I was 12 years old, but now joyfully consider myself so blessed to be a part of such a collaborative activist group. Our voices sing louder together…in perfect harmony.
I know this year has been a year of growth for me. In newness, I sometimes fear I might fail, but I have time and time again proven to myself I can do anything I set my mind to and my friends have cheered me on. I am a firm believer that having a strong support system has allowed me to create myself as I am today. 
My parents’ unfailing encouragement has lifted me up and I am forever grateful. I feel and see all they do for me, and in this coming new year, I hope to pay it forward. I hope to give back all the patience and grace I have been given by those who support me. I look forward to giving my best effort and remembering to breathe and love first. I will also be less judgmental and more accepting of new things.
How can I accomplish these things and turn “hope” into action? What if you wanted to create a new internal beginning with me? We could meditate or pray daily for peace in our world, more love in our hearts, and opportunities to share it. We could visualize daily that our bodily cells are healthy and beautifully shaped and that we choose to see love and kindness in others. We can imagine that smiles are created in our hearts with each heartbeat and given to others as a gift that radiates from our faces. We could decide to seek the positive in each and every situation and choose to know that everything that happens is somehow for our benefit…we just may not know “why” yet.
What would our days be like in this new year if many of us chose to make an internal resolution of positivity, love, and joy? Want to try it with me? I can’t wait to create my new and improved happiness!
We can do it together! Please join us in some special way with S&A this year! If you join us as a participant, ally, or financial supporter, I guarantee it will be one way you will experience positivity, love, and joy! Help us get “gigs” to present our message…that is one of the most beautiful gifts you could give us!
Happy 2024!
With Love,
Matteo Musso
January is the time we all associate with new beginnings. It’s a time to make resolutions, to do more of something, less of something, or start something entirely new. But the truth is that we can have a new beginning at any time of the year, and at any stage of life.
For me, receiving my autism diagnosis at 35 represented a new beginning; my Autiversary now means more to me than my chronological birthday. I have made another new beginning in the past year; starting my career in neurodiversity training for workplaces. Joining Spellers & Allies Advocacy Network (S&A) group is another new beginning from 2023. I didn’t have to wait for January to roll around for any of these things to happen.
For a nonspeaker, becoming a speller or gaining access to communication (a basic human right) is a new beginning. For them, their family and friends, being able to communicate with each other represents the beginning of a new phase in the relationship. This can happen at any age. In our S&A group, there are spellers who started using this method of communication in adulthood and adolescence. 
In 2024, I have the privilege of attending the wedding of a friend in Scotland, something which represents a new beginning for him and his wife-to-be. We have only ever interacted through written words; through tough times with family and the stress of lockdowns we have been a support for each other and we didn’t need mouth words to do that. This is an example I use when enlightening people about nonspeakers because it shows how the perceived hierarchy of communication, with mouth words at the top, needs to be flipped.
If January 1st coincides with a new beginning for you, that’s great, but don’t wait 365 days to embark on your own new beginning. You can do it anytime!
You can help fund new beginnings all year round by donating to I-ASC. If your New Year’s resolution is to give more to charity, do a good deed, or support marginalized communities, please consider making a donation to us here
About the Author
Matteo Musso is a minimally-speaking autistic 20 year old young man who lives with his parents in northern California. His speaking abilities are ever-increasing, but for now, he communicates through his letter board, expressing himself beautifully one letter at a time. Matteo has been invited to speak at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the Lincoln Center in New York, and for autism groups, conferences, schools, colleges, universities, therapy groups, social groups, book clubs, and churches. His message of “assuming intelligence even if we can’t prove to you what we know” is changing the way autistic people are educated and treated on a daily basis by those who teach, care for and love them. Matteo’s presentations also teach us how to deepen our relationships with those on the spectrum. He has written and published five books, highlighting Handbook of Us: Understanding and Accepting People with Autism, Autism Secrets Revealed and Moments of Feeling Known. Matteo loves art, poetry, swimming, and music. He loves food, too, and is affectionately known as “The Poetic Foodie.”
Liz is a neurodivergent ally to the speller and non-speaking community. They are a passionate advocate for neurodiversity rights with a strong belief in presuming competence and potential. You can read more of their words at www.actuallyautisticadult.com.
