More than 200 guests recently wined, dined, danced and rushed to the beat of Junkanoo at Liberty Overlook, the official residence of the American Ambassador, for autism awareness and support, opening hearts and eyes to creating new opportunities for special needs students.

The event, called Behind the Mask, served to build awareness and understand capabilities of students who may be challenged in one way but succeeding in other ways, thanks to schools like co-host Blairwood Academy, one of the oldest non-governmental educational facilities for children diagnosed as on the autism spectrum.

“When Blairwood Academy opened its doors more than 35 years ago, autism was rare and just one of many conditions from mild dyslexia to Down’s Syndrome that the campus served. Today, one in 31 students in the U.S. is diagnosed on the spectrum and in The Bahamas, with similar numbers, the need to serve those students so great that it takes greater understanding and huge initiatives to help provide services they deserve,” explained Blairwood Academy Principal Kim Kooskalis.

“Behind the Mask” was created by the Blairwood Academy PTA headed by Kimberly Clarke-Gibson to raise awareness around the need for students on the spectrum to be exposed to the broader world beyond the campus, to engage in the arts, sports and social activities just as their counterparts do. It is also critical, said Gibson, for students to have a safe, secure and structured space for summer camp and not be left behind when the school bell rings for the last time this year in June.

Experts do not know what has caused the rate of autism to skyrocket, but they do know it is four times as likely to occur in boys as in girls in America. While the U.S. rate has exploded, South Korea’s is double that.

“Today, I celebrate the resilience of every special needs student and their unique perspectives, strengths and contributions,” said Gibson. “Our teachers, families and professionals see past the autism and only see the beautiful individuals inside.”

Those ‘beautiful individuals’ the PTA president referred to were stars at the gala event, welcoming guests, helping to serve and two staging performances, one stunning the crowd with his piano wizardry and another in an expressive dance that drew a second standing ovation.

For U.S. Charge’ d’Affaires Kimberly Furnish, the event had a special meaning. Her son, Calvin, is on the spectrum and her love for him and pride shone when she spoke and started with the words, “Everyone needs a Calvin in their lives.” The audience, loud before, grew still and the only sound beside her next words was the occasional burst of applause. She spoke of a young man whose extraordinary memory and analytical mind far outweighed any awkward social skills but mostly of a child who taught everyone around him what it meant to truly love.

“The crowd tonight – they understood. They got it,” said Kooskalis. “They dressed up for the occasion and with the students serving and performing, showing what they were capable of even under the unusual circumstance of a crowd of more than 200, they were the ones who showed that behind the mask of a label are children of extraordinary strength, resilience and talent. We cannot thank Kim Furnish and the U.S. Embassy enough for helping to make this happen.”