Jehred Bennett inspires with Autism Acceptance Month speech
DOVER – City officials celebrated Autism Acceptance Month on Monday with a Mayoral proclamation and a rousing speech from a Challenger Baseball League representative.
First, Mayor Shane Gunnoe welcomed players and parents from Tuscarawas County Challenger Baseball, a league that includes players with special needs of all ages. He read a proclamation declaring April as Autism Acceptance Month and welcoming all residents to foster a community of unconditional inclusion and acceptance.
Then it was Jehred Bennett’s turn. The Dover resident is a Challenger ball player, a Special Olympics Ohio gold medalist and the 2024 TuscBDD Better Together Diamond Award winner. He called autism his superpower and advocated for a community where people like him feel like they belong. His full speech is below.
Challenger Baseball Manager Jennifer Flaherty said Bennett is a great representative of the league. She invited the community to the League’s opening day on Saturday, May 23rd at 3 p.m. at Dover City Park.
The park has hosted the Challenger baseball state tournament in the past, but this year the team will travel to Michigan for a summer tournament. The local Challenger league hosts 2-inning games that last about an hour and include everybody on the rosters on Tuesday and Friday evenings from May to July.
JEHRED BENNETT’S SPEECH TO DOVER CITY COUNCIL
Jehred Bennett speaks to Dover City Council on Monday, April 7.
“I want to share something important about who I am. I have autism. I don’t see it as something that holds me back. I see it as my superpower. My brain works differently. I may notice details others miss. I may think deeply, feel strongly and stay focused on things I’m passionate about. Those are strengths and those are gifts. But like any superpower, it comes with challenges, too. Sometimes the world can feel overwhelming, too loud, too fast or hard to understand. Social situations can be confusing. Communication may look different for me than it does for you. But different doesn’t mean less, it just means different. That’s where the community comes in. Inclusion doesn’t require perfection, it requires understanding. You can make a difference by being patient; by giving someone time to respond; by using clear, respectful language; by not judging someone for avoiding eye contact or needing space; by seeing the person first, not just the diagnosis. When communities choose acceptance, they create spaces where people like me don’t just exist, we belong. Autism is my superpower, and with your support, it doesn’t have to be something I overcome. It can be something that I use to thrive.”
Here’s the group picture from the Tuscarawas County Challenger Baseball Facebook page.