Growing up with autism
For Brett Anthony, autism has never been something that defines his limits. Instead, it has shaped a life centered on inclusion, understanding, and helping others feel seen.
Brett was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. He grew up in BOCES programs and later attended Pine Bush High School, where he experienced an inclusive educational environment.
“I’ve come a long way,” Brett said.
He describes himself as having high-functioning autism and reflects on his school years as a steady process of growth.
After graduating from high school, Brett chose to go directly into the workforce rather than attend college.
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“I never went to college,” he explained. “Honestly, I didn’t really see the point. As long as you have the diploma, I just decided to get right to the point.”
That decision led him into employment. Today, Brett works full-time as an overnight stock clerk at Price Chopper in New Windsor. Before that, he held part-time jobs at ShopRite and Marshalls.
The Anthony Family Foundation for Autism Support
While Brett is now known as an advocate and speaker, the Anthony Family Foundation for Autism Support, created by his parents, was established to address a critical gap in services for autistic individuals after they age out of school programs, when structured support often becomes limited or unavailable.
“The whole point of it is once kids on the spectrum age out of the school program, there’s not going to be any support for them,” he explained. “That’s why we created the foundation.”
That mission continues to guide the work of the foundation today.
For Brett, awareness alone is not enough.
“People are learning more about autism, but not enough,” he said. “I feel like people need to be more inclusive when it comes to anybody with disabilities.”
He believes inclusion starts with patience and simple human respect.
“It does not take a degree to just include them and get to know them,” Brett said. “You’ve got to be patient.”
What inclusion means
For Brett Anthony, inclusion is about acceptance of all people.
“Invite people regardless of their past, their race, their religion, their nationality,” he said. “I’m not the kind of person who likes to live in segregation.”
His experience at Pine Bush High School helped shape this belief. Being in an inclusive classroom gave him the chance to interact with peers both on and off the spectrum.
“That was my escape,” he said. “I was in an inclusive class where I could mingle with other people.”
Those experiences later inspired his advocacy work focused on understanding autism and promoting inclusion.
“I became an advocate to help people understand autism and our behaviors,” he said.
Challenging misconceptions
Brett is especially focused on correcting misunderstandings about autism.
“Some things people hear about autism may be true, and some may not be true,” he said.
One common misconception is that autistic individuals do not like physical affection.
“People say people with autism don’t like to be hugged, but that’s not really true,” Brett explained. “It’s more about sensory issues.”
He speaks from experience.
“I was one of those people who did not like to be hugged, but eventually I got over it,” he said.
For Brett, growth cannot be forced.
“You can’t force change with people, especially with autism,” he said. “You’ve got to let them be who they are.”
Finding his voice and a message for families
Brett’s confidence began through school activities such as plays, musicals, and choir.
“That’s where I got the confidence from,” he recalled.
A turning point came when he gave a presentation about his life with autism.
“I realized I had a voice,” Brett said.
Since then, he has shared his story through speaking engagements and community outreach.
“I met a lot of people that struggled,” he said. “They were very appreciative.”
When asked how many people the foundation has helped, he simply responded: “A lot.”
Looking ahead, Brett Anthony hopes families continue to find strength and support.
“You’ve got to have faith,” he said.
His advice to parents is simple: let individuals grow through experience, even mistakes. “You can’t protect them forever,” he added.
He also believes caregivers need more training to better understand autistic individuals, especially when routines are disrupted and support is needed to help them regulate and adjust.
At the heart of Brett Anthony’s message is a simple belief: inclusion begins with patience, understanding, and connection.
“Get to know them,” he said. “Be patient.”
