In life, people may love you and hate you; be sure they do so for the right reasons.

Leadership demands taking new paths into uncharted territories. Repeating failed methods but expecting different results literally defines “insanity.” Social acceptance – with or without autism – requires an internal compass to find and show others what is good about ourselves.

Since childhood, I enjoy comic books and creative magazines. Every month, I got a stack of books, including “Highlights for Children.” For years, I drew and wrote to this magazine. Their editors featured children’s submissions, but I never got picked. Still, I tried new artwork and continued hope. My family lived in a rural trailer; reading allowed me to escape reality and see a larger world.

Today, I write comic books for our small non-profit organization. In April, we invite people to volunteer their ideas of being heroic. Our team will try to interpret readers’ ideas into one story and show the world something special: lots of people who see themselves as heroes. We offer something mainstream comics cannot because we offer a different product; we want people accepting “different” as an amazing special ability despite whatever social judgments or misinformation. In a way, I cite “Highlights for Children” as my model for this project.

“Will I get paid,” is a common question. For persons asking, how much money do you expect? Certainly, you have some sum in mind. Take this dollar amount and subtract publication costs. Copyright and hire lawyers to defend intellectual property. Pay artists for their mentor-ship and (thirty years’) experience in the industry. Donate lots of books and pay for shipping. Make your first digital comic book an ongoing “pay-what-you-want” feature to remove financial barriers to sampling. Attend comic book conventions and promote in different cities. Be interviewed nationally in several countries.

…all while choking back anxiety, fears of failure, and overwhelming sensory input because you dare dream of tolerance. Pay in-patient hospital bills and ongoing treatments because said stress breaks you. Still, be braver than you think and try it all again with different goals. Rely on the love of family and friends. Hope other people remember you exist.

After accounting, I want to engage in serious discussions about sensory toys. Imagine comic book heroes having silk or velvet capes. Now add scents, like blueberry for blue costumes, or strawberry for red costumes. Offer customization designs to include many different sensory options [except taste]. Ensure durable sculpts in line with other mainstream heroic toys. Imagine a world where these toys replace outgrown security blankets, and kids play together with their heroes.

Changing the world requires trust, and trust goes both ways. Follow me, and we can do good things as described. I encourage others who have great ideas to self-publish work, too, because I welcome competition. Ours should not be the only heroes with autism written with authenticity.

Gandhi asked us to be a source of good change. I ask you to consider what heroism means to you, in under 400 words. The world cannot ignore lots of real heroes.