Evan: We Can Dance If We Want To…

Serendipity: I’ve always loved that word, because it captures those unexpected, happy moments that seem to come out of nowhere. That’s exactly what happened when I attended an end-of-the-year party hosted by my former college social club for students on the autism spectrum. They invited alumni, and I eagerly showed up.

At the party, they introduced a guest speaker named Brittany. She spoke passionately about her nonprofit, which supports people on the spectrum and offers scholarships to those who apply. After her talk, I struck up a conversation with her—and we instantly clicked. One of the things we bonded over was our shared love for Eminem, even some of his deep cuts from before he hit it big.

Brittany told me about an upcoming dance happening the following Friday at a community center in Fountain Valley. (That’s a small city in Orange County, California for those of you not local.) It was a social event specifically for people with special needs—and I knew I didn’t want to miss it. So, I threw on a collared shirt, headed to the dance, and had an incredible time.

The night was full of laughter, great music, and kind people. The playlist featured a fun mix, including some classics from the ’80s—like “Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats, which inspired the title of this post. That song sort of became my motto for the evening: We can dance if we want to. It didn’t matter if anyone had rhythm or not; it didn’t matter if you were coordinated or not—what mattered was showing up and letting yourself move freely.

Brittany was there too, and we had more great conversations about rap, life, and everything in between. Everyone left the dance a little sweatier but definitely happier. And the best part? Brittany told me about more upcoming events I can’t wait to attend.

I’m so grateful for people like her—people who not only care deeply about others but truly get it. Her son is on the spectrum, so she understands something a lot of the world overlooks: people on the spectrum need chances to connect, to socialize, to dance—just like anyone else.