Wheeler Schools Celebrate Students With Autism Awareness Spirit Week

The Wheeler County School System held its Autism Awareness Spirit Week from April 6 to April 10 to celebrate and encourage its growing number of neurodivergent students.

“What’s different is awesome, and we’re proud of our students for embracing the event and their fellow students,” said Wheeler County Superintendent Dr. C. Alex Alvarez.

The spirit week encouraged students to attend school wearing specific clothing. Themes included Monday’s “Bulldog Blue,” “Tie Day Tuesday,” “Wonderful Mind Wednesday,” Thursday’s “Team Up” and Friday’s “Different is Awesome.”

Each day in the spirit week represented various aspects of how neurodivergent students fit into the Wheeler County School System, with Wednesday representing how students’ minds may work differently from one another, while Tuesday and Thursday represent the unification of the student body.

“I think this can be transferred not just to autism, but to any differences in people and embracing them,” said Wheeler County’s Special Education Director Sandy Adams.

Adams was inspired to begin an autism awareness event in 2025, spurred on by a growing number of children in the school’s pre-K program being diagnosed with autism. She also felt the event would be an opportunity to educate older students who may be unaware of their own autism, as well as non-neurodivergent students.

“Even a lot of students who have autism don’t know it and don’t understand what it is,” said Adams. “So, it increases their understanding, and it increases the understanding of others.”

The original 2025 event was only slated to last one week, with neurodivergent students giving morning announcements over the school intercom system. However, as more students, including neurotypical students, wanted to participate, the event grew into a month-long affair.

“I was proud of our students for the way they came together and participated,” said Adams.

For 2026, the school’s autism awareness saw much more adult participation, with Wheeler County High School teachers Amber Melton and Ty Vann developing the concepts for the spirit week days. Melton also developed graphics for the event, as Adams described her as a “Canva guru.”

The schools’ success with the autism awareness event has also led them to plan for May to serve as a mental health awareness month across the district. According to Adams, this observance will help form a system of support for Wheeler County students.

“It’s about taking care of the whole child, and mental health is part of the whole child,” said Adams.

Other teachers and staff at Wheeler County have also developed a greater interest in highlighting and celebrating neurodivergence, such as one teacher who suggested observing a week dedicated to dyslexia awareness.

“I think the more those teachers, or adults or paraprofessionals want to get involved, the bigger we can make these different events,” said Adams.