Ep 17: A Student & Parent’s Perspective on Neurodiverse Classrooms

In this heartwarming episode of Shining Through: Inspiring Voices of Autism, host Jennifer Dantzler sits down with Erica and Mason Johnston, a mother-and-son duo with a powerful story about what real inclusion looks like inside the classroom. Mason, now a high school student, reflects on his early years growing up alongside peers with autism in an inclusive learning environment—and how that experience shaped his understanding of empathy, acceptance, and community. Erica shares a parent’s perspective on how communication, collaboration, and intentional planning helped inclusion thrive in their school culture. Together, they remind us that when inclusion is done right, everyone grows. ✨ Tune in to hear: How early exposure to inclusion shapes lifelong compassion What schools can do to truly embrace “different, not less” A teen’s firsthand insight into how inclusion changes the way we see the world Listen now and be inspired to “just do it”—make inclusion a natural part of everyday life.