Mercyhurst grad AIMs to stamp out stereotypes

All too often, we focus on the negative qualities associated with autism. Ben VanHook ’21 wants to change that.

“Autism has historically been heavily stigmatized and misrepresented, leading to discrimination, bullying, abuse, harassment and other forms of maltreatment for autistic persons,” said VanHook. We should instead focus on the strengths and positives associated with the neurotype.

The negative stereotypes are sometimes unintentionally reinforced by doctors explaining the symptoms of autism to parents, said VanHook. The “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”—a resource published by the American Psychiatric Association that lists the diagnostic criteria of autism and is most often used for autism assessments in the United States—is very deficits-based, he said.

VanHook double-majored in Political Science and Psychology at Mercyhurst, graduating in 2021. He said he had the “honor and privilege of being a part of Mercyhurst’s AIM program.”

Brad McGarry, longtime program director of the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst who died of ALS in 2023, was “a huge inspiration” to VanHook and greatly influenced the work he does in the neurodivergent community. “He was the first person in my life to truly believe in me, see my autism as a gift and strength, and help me realize the limitless potential I had,” VanHook said.

Many of Mercyhurst’s core values—compassionate hospitality, global responsibility, reflective awareness, and being socially merciful—“guide the work I do in disability rights and global human rights,” he said. “I have been the only autistic person in leadership at the American Psychological Association, Division 33 (autism and intellectual disabilities) since 2021,” he said. “It’s not been easy, but I have been working to reform our division to become more inclusive and representative of autistic persons.”

VanHook is pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at George Mason University, with an emphasis in education policy.

“Self-reported Strengths and Talents of Autistic Adults,” a report co-written by VanHook, aims to dismantle autism’s negative stereotypes and promote healthy discussions between parents, doctors, and those with autism. The paper was published in Autism: International Journal of Research and Practice.

“Utilizing the autistic community was critical to our study,” said VanHook. “We implemented a community-based participatory research (CBPR) model from the outset and included autistic voices at every stage—from evaluating our measurement tools to coding to writing the manuscript.”

VanHook works at the Organization for Autism Research in Arlington, Virginia, where he serves as community support coordinator, responsible for networking, running its Scholars’ Society and Self-Advocate Advisory Council, and bolstering its Hire Autism initiative.

PHOTO: Ben VanHook.