Harrison experiences the world in a very different way.
He is non verbal autistic and has high support needs, which means he needs a lot of help each day to understand what is happening around him, to communicate his needs, and to feel safe in a world that can often feel overwhelming and confusing.
Harrison does not use many words to tell us how he feels, but he is always communicating through his movements, his sounds, his expressions, and the ways he seeks comfort and reassurance.
Some days are calm and happy. Some days are loud, overwhelming, or deeply distressing.
Small changes can feel enormous. Simple things can feel like too much.
And sometimes, things most people wouldn’t even notice can completely change how safe his world feels.
Autism is a spectrum but not a straight line from “mild” to “severe.”
All autistic people can experience sensory overload, anxiety, difficulty with change, and the need for routine. But the level of support someone needs can be very different.
Some autistic people can speak fluently or live independently. Others like Harrison need significant, ongoing support.
One experience is not more valid than another. But higher support needs often mean life is more intense and dependent on the right supports being in place.
Soft lighting, quiet spaces, sensory comforts, and predictable routines are essential supports.
When Harrison becomes overwhelmed, it isn’t naughty behaviour.
It is a sign something feels too big, too fast, too loud, or too confusing.
When we understand this, we respond with support instead of discipline — and that changes everything.
I created Harrison’s Voice to help others understand what life can feel like for autistic children with higher support needs — not through statistics, but through stories and real-life moments.
Because when people understand, they respond with compassion instead of judgement.
If this space helps even one person better understand high support needs autism…
If it helps one family feel less alone…
If it helps one child be met with patience instead of pressure…
Then it is doing exactly what it was made to do.
Thank you for being here.