Haley Moss ’12 was often viewed by her peers as a shy student, with a tendency to keep to herself in social settings. It would take some time to discover that while she may have been timid at times, she would prove herself to be a dynamic voice for change.
Haley was born in Boca Raton, Florida, but shortly thereafter her parents moved a bit further west to the city of Parkland. She was like any other child at that young age, bright-eyed and full of wonder for her growing world, until her parents noticed that there may have been something different about her.
“I was doing things like putting together puzzles with 100 and 200 pieces. But I also hadn’t been very verbal. Instead of talking I would just scream, so by the time I got to three years of age, my parents realized that something was off,” she says.
After seeing several specialists, Haley’s parents finally received a formal diagnosis for her at three years old. They were informed that she was autistic, but her mother and father decided not to share that with her right away. In fact, they would not disclose that to Haley until she was nine.
According to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), autism is defined in simple terms as a “a developmental disability that affects how people experience the world around them.” Autistic people come from every community, every background and every walk of life. Every individual living with autism has a unique path, but the ASAN highlights that there can also be common markers such as “thinking differently, processing senses differently, communicating differently, moving differently, and socializing differently.” Some autistic people may need help with daily living, while others may not.
“When my parents finally did tell me about my autism, they compared it to Harry Potter, and told me that I had magical powers. They told me that I was different, but that it wasn’t bad. Rather, it made me extraordinary, and as a family, we chose to focus on my strengths and celebrate those, instead of dwelling on any weaknesses,” Haley says.
“I’m sure you could find plenty of folks who disagree with the tactic my parents used, but I’m grateful they handled things that way,” Haley explains. “It allowed me to focus on just being a kid. Once they shared that information with me, though, it did help me understand some things about myself a bit better. For example, like many autistic people, I have very specific, fixed routines. So I can be fearful of things like trying new foods, or anxious about being in a setting where I’m surrounded by lots of new people. Autism helped explain why I would sometimes be nervous about eating in social situations, or why I found it challenging to make friends.”
By the time Haley entered the eighth grade, she had changed schools three times in three years as a result of some of the challenges she faced.
“I went to a different school each year from sixth to eighth grade,” Haley said. “That’s how I ended up at Pine Crest Fort Lauderdale for eighth grade, even though we lived closer to the Boca campus. My parents figured that going into ninth grade, it would be one less change I’d have to navigate if I was already on that campus.”
It was during her time at Pine Crest that Haley continued to build her confidence, discover more of her strengths, and find her voice. “Certain things came to me with ease, like studying, because I have a great memory. Art was another major outlet for me, and I found that it sometimes allowed me to express myself better than I could verbally. My art teacher at Pine Crest, Ms. Barbara Smith, was hugely supportive.”
In fact, Haley demonstrated such a unique talent through art, that she began showing and selling her pieces in art shows by the age of 14. As she received more recognition for the paintings, her mother, Sherry Moss, encouraged her to donate some of the proceeds back to the community and the organization that initially helped Haley and her family– the University of Miami’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.
Haley went to school one morning just days before the art show, and handed a flyer for the event to her English teacher, Mr. Patrick. Having never disclosed her autism outside of a conference the year before, Haley found herself having to make a split-second decision about what to say when Mr. Patrick asked why she was supporting the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Haley announced to the class that it was because she herself is autistic, and, as Haley recalls, the decision changed her life forever. Revealing her truth encouraged Haley to begin speaking openly about her experiences, hoping to be a voice for other children like her, who faced similar challenges.
Writing proved to be another gift of Haley’s, as she wrote, illustrated, and published her first book at just 15 years old. Titled ‘Middle School: The Stuff Nobody Tells You About’, the book is intended to be a guide for neurodiverse, middle school-aged students who are trying their best to navigate the very nuanced environment of middle school.
“I think I was most trying to combat that idea of ‘Be yourself, just not like that,’ which is so prevalent among middle school students,” says Haley. “I just wanted to feel like I belonged, and I knew that other children in my position wanted the same thing.”
Haley would go on to write two more books that represented different stages in young adulthood, and would eventually publish a third centered on navigating neurodiversity in the legal profession, which is where Haley began her professional career .
According to authors Nicole Baumer, MD, MeD and Julia Freuh, MD of Harvard Health Publishing, neurodiversity “describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits.” This is the ideology Haley began to move forward with as a primary focus of her work.
After attending the University of Florida for undergraduate studies, Haley received her juris doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law. She practiced healthcare litigation from January 2019 to December 2019, and by that time, she had become such a visible advocate for neurodiversity that it was not long before her schedule was filled with appearances and speaking engagements. So many, in fact, that Haley pivoted away from practicing law exclusively, and began her own business as a keynote speaker and educator.
Explaining why she is so passionate about advocating for others’ and their mental health, Haley shared her personal motivation.
“Other people are constantly trying to write the narrative for those who are neurodivergent. We hear about how and why we are the way we are from ‘experts’ and doctors all the time. But no one can better explain why certain things are challenging for me than I can. I’m the expert on myself. And I’ve been one of those fortunate enough to have my voice heard, so I work everyday to ensure that other people with abilities like mine are heard as well,” Haley says.
“It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that someone on the autism spectrum is practicing law or doing something amazing. It shouldn’t be the exception; it should be normal—part of everyday life.”
While Haley is eternally grateful to have had opportunities to advocate for others like her, she is quick to remind us that there is still considerable work to be done.
“People like to pin the advocate label on me, or say that I’m bringing greater awareness to neurodiversity. But honestly, I don’t even like the term 'awareness'. Awareness is simply knowledge or perception of something. So technically, we all already have an awareness.” Haley explains that she’s looking to continue moving toward an acceptance framework. “I continue this work because I really believe it’s time that we move past awareness to acceptance and action.”
Haley believes that constructs like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) have been instrumental for advancing our understanding of neurodiverse individuals, but that we’ve reached a point where things should be evolving to another level. “Yes, we still have a long journey ahead, but I think we’re at a place where all bodies and minds should be accepted. When neurodiverse individuals have a seat at the table, we all win; organizations become more equitable, inclusive, productive, and innovative.”
Haley’s dedication is fueled by a desire to be afforded the same independence and ownership of thought that neurotypical people may take for granted. “I don’t want other people setting the limits for what neurodiverse individuals can and cannot do,” she stressed, emphasizing her message that access is for everybody. “We should be setting those limits for ourselves, no differently than those who are neurotypical do. It’s simply about giving equal opportunity and access to people with different abilities. How we get there may look different, feel different, and sound different, but ultimately, we want to achieve the same goals in life.