Hoos Serving

Charlotte Robbins (she/her/hers) is a third-year in the McIntire School of Commerce, concentrating in finance on the global commerce track and minoring in psychology. Charlotte has been co-president of Autism Allies since January 2021, and before that, served as treasurer in 2020. She also was the philanthropy treasurer of Zeta Tau Alpha from January through December of 2020.

What led you to your service work?

My younger brother, Benjamin, is on the severe end of the Autism spectrum, and I grew up caring for him and learning his language. When I first arrived at UVA, I knew I wanted to be involved in a club that supported autism research and/or care in the Charlottesville area. I found Autism Allies online and signed up at the Fall Activities Fair to secure membership.

What has been the most rewarding aspect that comes with your community involvements?

The most rewarding aspect that comes with my involvement in Autism Allies is being able to perpetuate neurodiverse norms and significantly contribute to established as well as new volunteer organizations locally. We have a strong partnership with the Virginia Institute of Autism, in which we are able to connect UVA volunteers with students for our mentorship program, provide themed care packages each semester, as well as other donations. We also partner with newer organizations such as the Autism Sanctuary and Forge.

How would you encourage others to get involved?

I would encourage others to get involved by joining our listserv, following us on Instagram, and visiting our website. We are looking for male mentors currently – here is a link to our mentorship application.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

People might be surprised to learn that I have always had trouble with social interactions and public speaking, despite now being co-president of a student organization on Grounds. To me, this just proves that any student is able to share their passions and make an impact at UVA despite having differing abilities. My main goal in life is to increase psychological diversity at corporations in the United States, and ideally, globally. Over 80% of people with AS are unemployed, and this figure will only increase as we find better ways to diagnose adults and as individuals become more comfortable sharing their diagnoses.

What is your favorite spot on Grounds and why?

My favorite spot on Grounds is Clark Hall. I love the beautiful murals in the entryway and all the different nooks and crannies where students can study in the stacks or on the main floor. I also love getting a latte before class at Greenberry's or sushi while I'm studying.

What is a book or movie you would recommend?

A book that I am currently reading and would recommend to absolutely anyone is Autistics on Autism. The book shares 2-5 page passages written by individuals who were diagnosed with ASD largely before the age of 10. The book is edited by Kerry Magro, who is now TikTok famous for his experience with autism research. It's a really easy read and benefits his charity that gives scholarships to people with autism looking to gain a college education. It can be delivered through Amazon Prime, too! My favorite story right now is "Abigail's Story: Dear Philanthropists," which details the experience of humanity from a neurodivergent perspective and how that can leave one feeling misunderstood and unreciprocated.

If you could do one thing to make the world a better place, what would it be?

To make the world a better place, I would build an organization that provides a broad variety of opportunities for nonverbal individuals on the spectrum to improve their methods of communication and achieve their greatest goals. It is difficult enough to be understood with words, so imagine trying to communicate your knowledge and feelings without a common language. By leveraging AI, big data, and psychological research, I hope to create safe spaces and collaborative facilities for folks on the spectrum.