Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This event was organized by HxA Campus Community at Cornell University.
Only a few short decades ago, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was an exceptionally rare diagnosis estimated to affect only 0.05% of the American population. Understanding of this condition was limited, and public awareness was virtually nonexistent due to both its rarity and the ostracization of individuals receiving this diagnosis. Fast forward to today, and the percentage of children diagnosed with ASD has surged from 0.05% to nearly 4%, with projections suggesting a continued rate of rapid growth in the coming years and decades. As more individuals and families have been thrust into the journey of navigating life with autism, the topic has moved beyond clinical settings into the broader realm of social discourse. Now more than ever, it is crucial to understand the realities of what equity, inclusion and acceptance truly demand.
Chloe Barnes is a Liberty University alumna with a degree in trauma psychology major and over eight years of hands-on experience working within the disability community. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of roles such as caregiver, executive assistant, and administrative coordinator assisting with respite events at Joni and Friends Texas. These professional and personal experiences ignited Chloe’s passion for advocacy and inspired her to pursue it as a full-time enterprise. Today, Chloe is pursuing higher education through Peterson Academy, and collaborates closely with individuals and families living with disabilities to raise awareness.
This event was organized by HxA Campus Community at Cornell University.
Only a few short decades ago, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was an exceptionally rare diagnosis estimated to affect only 0.05% of the American population. Understanding of this condition was limited, and public awareness was virtually nonexistent due to both its rarity and the ostracization of individuals receiving this diagnosis. Fast forward to today, and the percentage of children diagnosed with ASD has surged from 0.05% to nearly 4%, with projections suggesting a continued rate of rapid growth in the coming years and decades. As more individuals and families have been thrust into the journey of navigating life with autism, the topic has moved beyond clinical settings into the broader realm of social discourse. Now more than ever, it is crucial to understand the realities of what equity, inclusion and acceptance truly demand.
Chloe Barnes is a Liberty University alumna with a degree in trauma psychology major and over eight years of hands-on experience working within the disability community. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of roles such as caregiver, executive assistant, and administrative coordinator assisting with respite events at Joni and Friends Texas. These professional and personal experiences ignited Chloe’s passion for advocacy and inspired her to pursue it as a full-time enterprise. Today, Chloe is pursuing higher education through Peterson Academy, and collaborates closely with individuals and families living with disabilities to raise awareness.
