Autistic model continues to break stereotypes

As she welcomes THE WEEKEND STAR team to her Lluidas Vale, St Catherine, home, talented musician and model Israel Harrison flashes a bright and welcoming smile.

Her natural hair is neatly styled in a high updo which complements her blue business attire. As she crosses her legs, and uses her hands to smooth a crease in her pants, she states that she has come a long way since her autism and ADHD diagnosis four years ago.

“I treat myself differently and I stopped acting like I don’t have autism, so I stopped trying to act like everybody else. It was very challenging to act normal before especially as it related to eye contact. I didn’t know how long to stay in conversations ... I just had a lot of social issues. It was difficult pretending to be like everyone else,” Harrison said.

While many persons are diagnosed to be on the autism spectrum during their childhood, Harrison’s revelation came when she was 25. Born in Lluidas Vale, she spent a portion of her years in West Kingston and Portmore, St Catherine. For most of her life, persons struggled to understand her and Harrison said she too often wondered why she did not fit in with the regular crowd.

“Growing up I was extremely sensitive and I was very isolated. If children play with me or touched me, I would fight them. Anything that had to do with the senses was really heightened for me and a touch would just feel burdensome for me. We always knew that something was wrong with me because I would always go to school and cry. I never know how to regulate my emotions so I had to see psychiatrists,” she said.

“My family just didn’t know why I isolated myself and why I was depressed or had so many food aversions and why I hated bright lights and so on. I was on the Internet one day and I heard people talking about the same thing and it was a light bulb went off and that’s how I got tested and the results came back that I had autism and ADHD,” Harrison added.

Harrison was so misunderstood, that some persons thought she was possessed.

“I have actually heard people say that demon in me and that I need an exorcism. Another word used to describe me was ‘mad’ as they didn’t know why I am so different,” she said.

In 2015, Harrison said she was scouted by an agent to be a model but said she lacked confidence and stage presence. Instead, she learnt to play the guitar and cello instead. But, seven years later, she developed an interest in modelling and pageantry and that was when she decided to enter the Miss Jamaica International Competition. She won and later represented the country in Japan.

“I decided to use my talent to just show others with autism that they can do it as well. I represent for all neurotypical individuals. I wouldn’t enter a pageant if I didn’t think I have a purpose,” she said.

There are times when Harrison said she has been hard on herself but said if she could speak to her younger self, she would tell her to stop being so scared and feeling like the world is on her shoulder.

“The most important that my younger self forgot was to have fun and that there were persons who were willing to take on my journey with me,” she said.

She currently works closely with organisations including the Combined Disabilities Association and the Jamaica Autism Support Association. She also worked with the Silver Bird Steel Band and at RIU Hotel in St Ann.

“I have learnt that people are not that bad and they are not out to get me. I have learnt to meet them halfway and I am learning how to process information to them and how to communicate in their language,” she said.

“I want people to stop sugarcoat how we experience autism. I look put together as I can do my make-up, so they think I am high functioning and good. But there are times when I struggle too. It’s not about spreading awareness, as we have done enough of that, but can we do some integration and ways to get us into society? A lot of persons with autism struggle to secure a job.”