As her body sways, Taylor Whitt’s hands fidget, as though grasping for something just out of reach. Taylor, 19, was diagnosed with autism and developmental delay when she was 4. Then, at 12, she was further diagnosed with selective mutism, a rare mental-health disorder that renders one paralyzed with anxiety, to the extent of being incapable of speaking.
“People don’t see past the disorder,” laments Taylor’s mother, Tiffany Whitt. “I want for people to know that she’s like everyone else. She has love for everybody. She has the biggest heart. She feels everybody else’s feelings.”
Despite Taylor’s challenges, she has made progress towards gaining independence. “She will make eye contact with you now,” says Chris Spoonamore, Taylor’s social studies teacher. “A year ago, there was no way. She would retreat before, and there would be nothing.”
With the help of her teachers, Taylor has started to step out of her comfort zone. She will stand in the hallway during class changes so she can socialize with her peers. Every week Taylor helps with a coffee cart, going from classroom to classroom to sell coffee and soda to teachers and students.
Shelby Jones, an employment specialist at Montgomery County High School, has worked with Taylor to prepare her for life after graduation. During the week, Shelby helps Taylor visit preschoolers at Mt. Sterling Elementary, where Taylor works with the children and is gaining confidence to read aloud to them. “I think that everybody has a purpose,” Shelby says. “Everybody has a reason. Taylor definitely has long-term purpose, and we just have to find what that is.”
Beyond the public school system, Taylor’s greatest asset is her family. “They’re great advocates,” Shelby says. “They’re going to make sure she gets every opportunity that they can. I’m very glad that she has that, because that’s the most powerful part. Because that’s going to take her further than anything.”
