TOMS RIVER – Alyssa Lego, a 22-year-old Boston College senior from Toms River, is on a mission to raise awareness about autism. Inspired by her brother Michael, who is nonverbal, Alyssa has dedicated time and creativity to telling stories that foster understanding and empathy around neurodiversity.
“My younger brother is 19 and on the autism spectrum,” Alyssa shared. “Michael is two and a half years younger than me, and growing up, I realized that he experienced a lot of ableism, discrimination, and bullying because of his disability.”
The 2021 Donovan Catholic graduate has already released four books in her “You Me Neurodiversity” series, each one helping children and adults better understand autism and its impacts. However, her journey to becoming an advocate began as a young teenager.
Alyssa said that watching how others treated her brother forced her to grow into the protective big sister role from an early age. She found that she was particularly affected by how Michael was bullied.
“When I was 13 or 14, I sat down with the woman who’d been my fourth-grade teacher,” shared Alyssa. “We created a lesson plan program called ‘Friends Who Are Different.’ It was all about respecting students.”
After fine-tuning the program, Alyssa courageously pitched the concept to the Toms River School District. “Friends Who Are Different” caught fire, with Alyssa touring kindergarten classes to deliver the message of understanding and acceptance.
“I did that for about a year,” Alyssa said. “For the next seven years, I was heavily involved with a lot of fundraising work to support autism communities in New Jersey.”
Books in the “You Me Neurodiversity” series written by Toms River’s Alyssa Lego. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
Alyssa left home to go away to college, still determined to keep advocating for autism awareness – though she wasn’t yet sure how. After brainstorming with her mother, Dawn Lego, she devised the idea for the You Me Neurodiversity series. The goal was to create engaging stories for young children that introduce concepts of acceptance and understanding in a fun, relatable way.
The first book, “Max and the Tower of Acceptance,” came out in spring 2023. The story introduces Max and his journey to explain to his classmates what it is to be autistic.
“His classmates have this new appreciation for him,” shared Alyssa. “And he develops this really close relationship with his teacher, Miss Jones.”
Through Max’s story, Alyssa brings readers along as his friends build a “tower of acceptance” and discover what it means to appreciate each other’s differences. One of the most touching parts of the book is the dedication – to Michael, who Alyssa refers to as her beautiful brother.
“You are a constant source of inspiration, and your unique way of experiencing the world has forever shaped my perspective,” Alyssa wrote. “In your gentle presence, I have learned the true meaning of acceptance, empathy, and the beauty of neurodiversity.”
Following “Max and the Tower of Acceptance,” Alyssa published “Lily Finds Her Voice” in the summer of 2023. This book tells the story of Lily, a nonverbal young girl who uses an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) device to communicate.
Lily’s story is close to Alyssa’s heart, as Michael also uses an AAC device. While he can say words occasionally, the device allows Michael to express more complex thoughts and emotions. Through Lily’s journey, Alyssa hopes to show readers that communication goes beyond spoken words – it’s about understanding each other’s needs and creating connections.
“Max and the Tower of Acceptance” is the first in the series and contains a powerful dedication to the author’s brother. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
“Henry and the Birthday Invitation,” the third book in the series, was released in early 2024. It follows Henry, a boy with autism, who is finally invited to a friend’s birthday party. Henry’s friends make sure he feels comfortable at the party by creating a “quiet corner” with calming items, showing how small changes can make a big difference.
“I don’t think my brother was ever invited to a birthday party,” Alyssa said. “Henry’s story is what inclusion can look like.”
The latest addition, “Julie Visits the Statue of Liberty,” debuted in August 2024. The book was inspired by Michael’s interest in visiting the iconic statue. After seeing him mention the Statue of Liberty on his AAC device, the family planned a sensory-friendly trip that allowed Michael to experience the landmark comfortably. Julie’s story celebrates the adventure of exploring new places while keeping the needs of neurodiverse individuals in mind.
To make the books even more impactful, the two new titles include “self-advocate pages” spotlighting individuals with intellectual disabilities. A coloring book entitled “Colorful Minds; Colorful Worlds” encourages children of all abilities to express their emotions through art.
“It’s a neurodiversity affirming coloring book,” explained Alyssa. “It’s a way to express emotions and share the joy of coloring with a neurotypical and a neurodiverse person.”
The last two titles in the series feature “self-advocate” pages for other members of the community with intellectual disabilities. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
Alyssa and her mom worked together on the graphic designs of the books, which are self-published and available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. A portion of all proceeds goes to autism-focused charities.
Alongside her writing, Alyssa is active in promoting autism awareness on social media and attends conferences to speak about neurodiversity and inclusive education. Most recently, she spoke at the Summit for Transformative Learning in St. Louis, Missouri. After college graduation, Alyssa plans to work in healthcare public relations, bringing her advocacy skills to a new field.
No matter what she does professionally, Alyssa will always be there for her younger brother in every way. She’s honored that her parents have named her as one of Michael’s legal guardians along with them. And she gives both her mom and dad credit for raising her to be accepting and tolerant.
“It’s the way they would tell me things about my brother, and how we would reconcile them,” Alyssa shared. “They would tell me this is how Michael communicates, how he behaves, and how we help him and support him.”
“I almost didn’t know there was anything abnormal or different until we would enter the community,” she continued. “Then, we would get the backlash, the bullying and the questions. I thought finding creative solutions was normal, as was being resilient and not afraid to fail.”
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