Woman Makes History By Becoming First 'Openly-Autistic' Lawyer Admitted To The Florida Bar
When Haley Moss was young, doctors told her parents she would have difficulty living on her own, potentially never able to hold a minimum wage job. Now, she's graduated law school, and become the first openly-autistic person admitted to the Florida Bar.
Moss was diagnosed being on the autism spectrum when she was 3-years-old. As a toddler, she could read and do jigsaw puzzles, but she didn't speak. She finally started speaking at the age of 4.
The young lawyer told CBS News,
"I first shared my story at a conference when I was 13 years old. I've always enjoyed getting to connect and share."
And she's not kidding.
When I was diagnosed with autism at age 3, my parents were told I’d be lucky if I got a driver’s license or even ma… https://t.co/D6eKXXCePs— Haley Moss (@Haley Moss)1547481605.0
@WCJB20 Thanks for sharing my story! I’m a @UF alum so lots of love for North Central Florida 🐊❤️— Haley Moss (@Haley Moss)1550439451.0
@Queb28 There are plenty of #ActuallyAutistic folks who do not disclose due to discrimination, fear, or other reaso… https://t.co/MTUknmMuHc— Haley Moss (@Haley Moss)1550347429.0
@laney_lam @NeuroRebel @Dead_Suzi @KVUE Wow. The first time I saw my story shared beyond my local paper I saw an ed… https://t.co/CNkdSwBVWj— Haley Moss (@Haley Moss)1550493166.0
Before becoming a lawyer, she wrote her first book Middle School — The Stuff Nobody Tells You About: A Teenage Girl with ASD Shares Her Experiences when she was 15-years-old. A few years ago, she published a follow-up called A Freshman Survival Guide for College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Stuff Nobody Tells You About!
Moss has contributed essays to collections on people living the autistic experience.
She's also been very active in speaking engagements, doing her best to spread her story and shine a light on people with autism.
"I've always been raised to give back and help others in need and help the community. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes an even bigger village to raise a child with a disability.
"I realized by sharing my story, I could be a part of someone else's village."
The 24-year-old attorney had an employer lined up after graduating last year, contingent on her passing the bar.
She did just that last month.
Her story is very inspiring and gives hope to others, especially neurotypical parents of autistic children.
@wsvn As a mother of an autistic child myself, I truly find this inspiring. WTG Haley! 👏🏻— I Hate BankofAmerica ♿️ (@I Hate BankofAmerica ♿️)1550510940.0
Inspiring and inspired. I am not only impressed by the accomplishments of #HaleyMoss, I am also heartened to see th… https://t.co/P2QoBNQHgA— Alberto M. Carvalho (@Alberto M. Carvalho)1550581672.0
@ksatnews I've been in the education field for 32 yrs and this is certainly a wonderful and encouraging piece of in… https://t.co/aGTdmU7ybK— Jackie Ledford (@Jackie Ledford)1550547734.0
Both Moss and her employer believe she is the first practicing, openly-autistic lawyer in Florida.
"There are plenty of things that are difficult for me, but I want you to see what I'm good at,"
Moss said.
"I think it's absolutely important to hire people on the autism spectrum. Many of us are unemployed or underemployed."
It's very possible another Florida lawyer may be autistic, but considering support for people on the spectrum is low, they may not be open about their diagnosis.
@ksatnews Given maybe 1 in 30 lawyers is autistic, it shows how many have to hide a diagnosis, due to the relentles… https://t.co/LBDARqLWWd— Ann Memmott (@Ann Memmott)1550480658.0
@AstridCoxon @NeuroRebel @ksatnews Two sources: Latest CDC figures from USA, adjusted to add in the missed-from-dia… https://t.co/WSKXzVq442— Ann Memmott (@Ann Memmott)1550493563.0
I saw a comment about me being “openly autistic” as a word choice following today’s story. Being “open” is a choic… https://t.co/Z2RMMOzeW3— Haley Moss (@Haley Moss)1549673446.0
My employer knew I was autistic before they even met me. That never stopped them from interviewing or hiring me eit… https://t.co/0FYlPqXEuw— Haley Moss (@Haley Moss)1549673630.0
Moss is now practicing law. Her focus is on health care and international matters, along with advocacy for people on the spectrum. She has no plans to stop writing and creating art.
People Break Down Which Episode Of Television Was So Bad It Ruined The Entire Series For Them
You've probably heard that we live in the golden age of television. That's awesome.
Well You Knew This One Was Coming
<p>"Throughout Season 8 of [Game of Thrones] I was preaching patience. Let's see how it plays out. I didn't mind the white walkers <em>not</em> being the ultimate bad guy. I thought Dany's turn was odd but could potentially pay off. I was holding on to a thread of hope that there was a vision."</p><p>"So you can imagine my frustration with the finale. Lifeless. Soulless. An utter disdain for the show and its fanbase."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi658pw?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">doubledYou</a></p>Suddenly, a Psychopath
<p>"I stopped watching Bones after one of the sweet side characters was revealed to be the apprentice of a serial killer. Completely out of left field and totally stupid." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi6qctu?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">glory87</a></p><p>"Bones. It's been so long that I don't even remember the details, but one of the main cast suddenly murdered people and went to jail for some bizarre reason. I stopped watching after that, so it did ruin the series for me." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi6ry2n?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">tjeepdrv2</a></p>High Standards for Continuity
<p>"The King of the Hill episode where Hank doesn't realize what sticker price is when buying a new truck, and then attempts to vandalize the dealership."</p><p>"It was super out of character for Hank to not know how to purchase a vehicle and retaliate so childishly. It's a later season episode that I simply skip now."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi6xkek?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">lod001</a></p>A Few Gripes
<p>"Two last episodes of How I Met Your Mother."</p><p>"Deleted tons of character development and made the entire last seasons story obsolete." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi7fxsv?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Magnus-Krogsoe</a></p><p>"How i met your mother. She died the way she lived. Off screen." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi790u4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">CambaceresDM</a></p>Always Eric and Donna
<p>"That 70's Show had two."</p><p>"The first is when Eric and Donna broke up. I knew the entire next season was going to suck and focus on them both dating around before they got back together."</p><p>"The second was when Eric decides to propose to Donna. I knew that meant they weren't going to college and the were just going to be bums and I was right."</p><p>"The last 3 seasons of that show were unwatchable."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi6s499?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Nightshade_Salad</a></p>Cool Hair, Though
<p>"Stanger Things when Eleven runs away and chills with some street rats for some reason in an episode - hated it" -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi72kj4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">DeschainesBrain</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Hahaha i totally forgot about that. What a weird waste of an episode" -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi7apx1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">MrProfessorPhD</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"I heard somewhere that was a test for a new direction for the show. But test audiences hated it so that idea was scrapped but the episodes and tie in were kept. Dunno if its true or not but seems plausible given how unrelated that is to everything else." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi7cdua?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Chriogenosis</a></p>Budgetary Concerns?
<p>"Murder She Wrote; They had an episode set in 'Australia' with American actors dong Australian Accents even though there were Australian Actors living in LA at the time."</p><p>"The accents were that bad that I was too embarrassed to tell anyone that I ever watched the show. Drive time comedy on the radio had an absolute field day with it."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi6ar0y?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Captain_Coco_Koala</a></p>Cash Grab
<p>"The entirety of <em>The Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life</em> put me off the original series, which used to be my favourite comfort watch."</p><p>"I really wish Amy Sherman-Palladino did not mess with something that originally ended on a good, satisfying note."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi6biua?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">boop_attack</a></p>4th Time's the Nosedive
<p>"So no one is going to say 'Sherlock season 4'? Do I have to be the one to bring that monstrosity up?" -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi75nif?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">More-Consequences</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Sherlock seasons 1-3 I had seen multiple times. I would just put it on in the background when I was doing other stuff because it was nice to follow along."</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"When season 4 came out I was excited and watched it all in one day. I have not watched the show at all since then. Totally ruined it for me." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi7jzs3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">MazerRakam</a></p>Sounds Riveting
<p>"That once episode in Voyager where that one guy and the captain become giant lizard things after a failed tinkering with warp 10. Like what" -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kqwirr/what_episode_of_a_television_show_was_so_bad_that/gi6lgpg?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Labrat_The_Man</a></p>As a child, I saw Sleeping Beauty and could not get over how messed up Maleficent was. She cursed a child because she wasn't invited to the birthday party?! Who does that?! Has she never heard of therapy?
She later turns into a dragon to try and kill a prince before he can reach the film's titular character and save the day. It's a downright creepy scene, actually. Short but thrilling.
And what about Cinderella? Who knew Disney movies could introduce us to the horrors of child abuse? The Evil Stepmother needs a therapist, too. (Did you know that both Maleficent and the Evil Stepmother were voiced by the same actress? It probably explains a lot.)
After Redditor shoopdahoop22 asked the online community, "What's the darkest Disney movie?" people shared their suggestions.
"I'm not even talking..."
<p><em>Dumbo</em>.</p><p>I'm not even talking about the crows. The amount of abuse that elephant goes through is heartbreaking for a kids movie. Plus the pink elephant scene was pure nightmare fuel.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kss7oa/what_is_in_your_opinion_the_most_fcked_up_movie/gihym32?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">nowhereman136</a></p>"He was ruthless..."
<p>The villain of <em>Oliver and Company</em> was so dark. He was ruthless and realistic. He was on the phone telling his men to drown people. He also sicced his dogs on the main character with killing intent and only stopped when he offered a scheme to kidnap a little girl that seemed viable. Plus he straight-up died at the end.</p><p>Otherwise a great movie though.</p>"Aoart from the old lady..."
<p><em>Fox and the Hound</em>. Apart from the old lady abandoning a hand-reared fox in the woods and just expecting it to know how to survive, the end message of the movie is, Stick With Your Own Kind.</p><p><span></span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kss7oa/what_is_in_your_opinion_the_most_fcked_up_movie/gii80zm?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">purplhouse</a></p>"I kind of wish..."
<p><em>The Black Cauldron.</em></p><p> A ragtag group of two children, an old man, and some weird childish talking animal are trapped in a torture-maze-castle by a satanic demon king who plans to sacrifice them by throwing them into a possessed cauldron to summon the souls of the dead who will melt the flesh off of his living soldiers and then inhabit their skeletal remains and serve as his undead army.</p><p><em></em>I kind of wish that they had decided to go full speed ahead with this and really owned the twisted horror of the movie. As it is, they cut out a lot of the graphic scenes and the result is a poorly edited mess of a movie that hardly makes any sense whatsoever.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kss7oa/what_is_in_your_opinion_the_most_fcked_up_movie/gii8w2m?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">-M-E-O-W-</a></p>"It was about a boy..."
<p>Good answers here. I'll add <em>Child of Glass</em>. It was a made-for-TV movie for Wonderful World of Disney in the late 70s. It was about a boy who moves with his family to a (Louisiana?) plantation and is visited by the ghost of a little girl whose soul can't rest until he solves the mystery of her murder. Which also puts his own life in danger. Pretty heavy stuff, but also kind of sweet.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kss7oa/what_is_in_your_opinion_the_most_fcked_up_movie/giic3kj?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">misterdandy</a></p>"They've been trying..."
<p>Song of the South</p><p>They've been trying to sweep their grossly altered historical depiction of benefactor slave owners and their happy slaves story under the rug for years.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kss7oa/what_is_in_your_opinion_the_most_fcked_up_movie/giig099?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">SightrHose</a></p>"And that's..."
<p><em>Beauty and the Beast</em>. Kidnapping. Attempted murder. False imprisonment. Coercion. And that's the "good" guy.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kss7oa/what_is_in_your_opinion_the_most_fcked_up_movie/giilhs2?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">BurgundyFord</a></p>"It's tough to pick..."
<p>Disney went through a weird period in the early 80s and tried some darker fare, resulting in releases like <em>The Watcher in the Woods</em>, <em>Dragonslayer</em>, <em>The Black Hole</em>, <em>The Black Cauldron</em>, <em>Something Wicked This Way Comes</em>, and <em>Return to Oz</em>. It's tough to pick the darkest of that weird (but lovable) bunch.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4nnad4/what_is_the_darkest_disney_movie/d45cgvt?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">VistaVizion</a></p>"Thousands of people die..."
<p>How is <em>Atlantis</em> not on this list? Thousands of people die, each character on the expedition is the literal example of a stereotype about a culture, and not a single person feels sad about the hundreds of crew members lost trying to find the city.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4nnad4/what_is_the_darkest_disney_movie/d45lef5?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Dovahkin42</a></p>"Judge Frollo..."
<p><em>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</em>. Judge Frollo kills a mother and tries to murder her child. He also decides that he will burn down the entire city of Paris if he doesn't get the girl <em>and</em> that the girl should burn in hell for tempting him.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4nnad4/what_is_the_darkest_disney_movie/d45b66e?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Fredfredbug4</a></p>People Explain Which Things They Wish They Started Doing Earlier In Life
Image by Jose Antonio Alba from Pixabay |
Time flies... before you know it, it's gone. Suppose there are things you really want to do: Getting into certain habits is a lot easier to do when you're younger. It's a lot easier to go to the gym and exercise on a regular basis, for example, when you're in 20s than when you're in your 30s, 40s, or 50s.
But there's nothing wrong with starting now––you'll notice the benefits eventually.
After Redditor Tr0az asked the online community, "What do you wish you started doing from a young age?" people shared their stories.
"I should have saved more..."
<p>Saving money, and spending responsibly. I should have saved more when I lived at home and had no commitments.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kq74es/what_do_you_wish_you_started_doing_from_a_young/gi25sgj?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">seanosaurusrex4</a></p>"The kind of thing..."
<p>Being kinder. I'm talking habitual kindness. The kind of thing where you do it so much you get a reputation for it and it comes more naturally than being disinterested/a d!ck.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kq74es/what_do_you_wish_you_started_doing_from_a_young/gi2ex3j?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">rizlagreen345</a></p>"It's weird because..."
<p>Making friends.</p><p>I can talk to large congregations with ease, participate in debates and discussions and <em>shine.</em></p><p><em>I, however, do not have friends.</em></p><p>It's weird because you'd expect me to have great social skills and all. I have no idea how to make small talk, or just talk to anyone normally. I can't understand what their responses are and make an appropriate response to it. I can talk about Math, Harry Potter, Earthsea, Stalin, Yuval Noah Harari and a lot more. I can't talk <em>with</em> people. I don't feel lonely, but my parents are upset and I wish for their sake, I'd learn to appear more normal.</p><p><span></span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kq74es/what_do_you_wish_you_started_doing_from_a_young/gi2e7iq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">methametrics</a></p>"Within a month..."
<p>Taking medication for my OCD.</p><p>I started on medication when I was 12, which sounds relatively young, but I wish my parents had out me on medication sooner. I missed out on most of my childhood. I had so much psychotherapy as a child, which did basically nothing. Within a month on medication, I had essentially no symptoms. I suffered for years when a pill a day could have alleviated it.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kq74es/what_do_you_wish_you_started_doing_from_a_young/gi2hn0d?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Hexomin</a></p>"I tried learning..."
<p><span>Studying music. I tried learning how to read music as a teen (privately, not school) and hated every second of it. Kodály can kiss my arse with his idiotic overcomplicated system. Notes have fixed names! Use those!</span></p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kq74es/what_do_you_wish_you_started_doing_from_a_young/gi2u37m?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">AkebiJehubiMethusie</a></p>"I was politely asked..."
<p>Yoga! I was politely asked to leave my youth gymnastics club as a little kid because I didn't have the attention span but I wish I'd carried on with some form of bendy, stretchy exercise. I get by alright as I'm only 29, but I think if I'd done yoga I'd feel a lot fitter and more youthful.</p><p><span></span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kq74es/what_do_you_wish_you_started_doing_from_a_young/gi2dlfg?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">broomheezy</a></p>"There is nothing in this world..."
<p>Learn about investments. Not just financial investments, but personal commitments as well. There is nothing in this world worth having that will come to you without some time and money invested.</p><p><span></span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kq74es/what_do_you_wish_you_started_doing_from_a_young/gi2dlfg?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">broomheezy</a></p>"Being open-minded..."
<p>Being open-minded about food. I was a very picky eater and now I'm mad at myself for missing out on so many delicious foods for so long.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kq74es/what_do_you_wish_you_started_doing_from_a_young/gi56ywh?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">CraziiSpice</a></p>"In general..."
<p>In general, I wished that I had developed the idea that discipline is important for everything early on. A new language, an instrument, your studies. It does not matter. By sticking to it you will get better. And if you stick to it long enough, you will get some nice skills later on.</p><p>Nothing is stopping me to start these things now, tho. I am really excited for this year.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kq74es/what_do_you_wish_you_started_doing_from_a_young/gi2yf9g?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">thatkafkaguy</a></p>"I'm tall..."
<p>Ballet. I'm tall and naturally graceful and I always always wanted to do it. Being one of four children of blue-collar parents it just wasn't in the cards for me. I tried a 100 level course in college and loved it but I was so far behind I get really self-conscious and dropped it.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kq74es/what_do_you_wish_you_started_doing_from_a_young/gi2jt38?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">ChosenPrawn</a></p>There are basic life lessons that are life-saving and cost-effective that we are all intimidated by but, in actuality, they take all of a few minutes to acquire. We all condition ourselves to believe that certain skills in life are just too complex for regular joes to master. The truth is... you do not need an Ivy League degree to learn how to clean out the water heater, clip your pet's nails, or change out a toilet. Who knew? So many of us have been forced to acquire new skills while we've been trapped at home and we're going to be better off for it.
Redditor u/goodspeed19 wanted to know what lessons we should all be learning while stuck in quarantine that will make us more useful in the future by asking..... What's a skill you can learn in 30 minutes to one hour that is extremely useful/cool?