Breaking the Silence: Alvinia and the Gentle Revolution of Teman Autis

The laughter of children can sometimes hide the cruelest words. This is what happened in my classroom in Semarang back in 2005. A kid with autism once sat quietly as his classmates whispered, giggled, and called him “weird”—not as a description, but as an insult. He was often an object of ridicule due to his difference. In fact, he was actually the brightest student that excels in English.

That scene immediately reminds me of a book I recently read. How Can I Talk If My Lips Don’t Move is a book written by Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay who was diagnosed in early childhood with severe or low-functioning non-verbal autism. This book reflects how a young man receives and processes information in various ways.

A book by an autistic young man recounting how he perceives the world (Photo: personal doc)

While he clearly sees the world in a different way, his observation and experience is absolutely important. From Tito I learn that someone with autism who cannot speak doesn’t mean he hasn’t got anything to say. His story invites us to think even further that he is essentially very smart and poetic as seen in poems he writes.

But in reality, children with autism often face bullying and teasing because others do not understand them. This unpleasant practice is widespread and worrying if no immediate action is taken. That, played in countless schools, has haunted Alvinia Christiany for years. For her, it was more than just a passing sadness. It was a wake-up call.

 “Back in 2017, heartbreaking stories began to surface about autistic children being bullied, especially at school. What hurt even more was hearing how the word autistic had become a casual insult in everyday conversations,” Alvinia recalled.

Alvinia with a speaker at a Seminar Autism 101 (Photo: Teman Autis

Those words—mockery disguised as humor—sparked something deep inside her. Together with her friend Ratih Hadiwinoto, she decided it was time to do something, to build a space where people with autism could be seen, heard, and respected.

That was how Teman Autis—literally means Friends of Autism—was born. Driven by love and empathy.

From unease to understanding

Back in 2017, Alvinia and her peers started small. They launched a youth project called Light It Up, driven by one simple belief: awareness begins with empathy. By April 2018, the project had evolved into a full-fledged community under its new name, Teman Autis.

Their mission was clear: to help society understand that autism isn’t a disease, nor something to be afraid of. It’s a part of human diversity—a different way of experiencing the world.

A campaign to educate public at a CAR Free Day (Photo: Teman Autis)

Teman Autis began showing up in public spaces, often where no one expected them. During Car Free Day in Jakarta, Alvinia and her volunteers marched through the crowds, holding banners about inclusion and smiling as they met curious pedestrians. Some people stopped to ask questions; others simply nodded and walked on. But each encounter mattered.

Those small, heart-to-heart conversations planted the seeds of empathy that would later bloom into change.

Building a haven of information and hope

As their work expanded, Alvinia realized that awareness alone wasn’t enough. Many parents raising autistic children felt lost, unsure where to turn for help. Information about autism in Indonesia was scattered across blogs, forums, and word-of-mouth stories—hardly accessible to those who needed it most.

“We began to wonder, what if there was a single place where parents could find everything they needed to know about autism? A space that could make their search easier and help them give the best possible support to their children,” Alvinia explained.

Offline and online, Teman Autis is actively advocating for understanding autism. (Photo: Teman Autis)

And so, temanautis.com came to life. The website gathers everything parents might need—basic understanding of autism, therapy centers, clinics, schools, even tips on daily care. It’s a one-stop platform built not for profit, but from the team’s own pockets and donations from kind supporters.

For many families, this online space has become a lifeline—a place to learn, to share, and to feel less alone.

A digital bridge of empathy

Teman Autis doesn’t stop at information. The community actively connects people—parents, caregivers, educators, and individuals with autism—through digital and offline activities.

One of their most beloved programs is TAWA, short for Tanya Jawab Seputar Autisme (Ask about Autism). Every 25th of the month, they host an Instagram Live session where parents can ask questions directly to experts. The sessions are warm, lively, and free for everyone.

Public socialization on autism, a massive support for parents with autistic kids (Photo: Teman Autis)

They also maintain a WhatsApp support group for parents of children with autism—a safe circle where laughter and tears are shared freely. In that group, strangers become friends, and friends become family.

Through these efforts, Teman Autis proves that awareness is not just about education—it’s about connection.

The struggle behind the smile

Every movement has its growing pains, and Teman Autis is no exception. In the early days, few organizations wanted to collaborate. They were newcomers, young and relatively unknown. But Alvinia’s team didn’t give up. Slowly, one partnership after another, they built credibility.

Today, they’ve established over 100 partnerships with organizations that share their vision. Yet challenges persist. With only 13 active members, the community often finds itself stretched thin.

Alvinia and his team, working hand in hand despite challenges (Photo: Teman Autis)

 “For now, our biggest challenge is the limited number of people on our team. We dream of reaching everyone across Indonesia—all parents and families with autistic children. But with only 13 members, that’s not easy. So, we take it step by step, hosting more webinars and online seminars to reach as many people as we can,” Alvinia said.

Her tone remains hopeful, never bitter. To her, obstacles are simply parts of the journey—a test of sincerity and commitment.

Redefining ‘different’

In the world of Teman Autis, being different doesn’t mean being less. Alvinia and her team believe that every person with autism has unique gifts waiting to be discovered. On their social media pages, they regularly highlight inspiring stories of people on the autism spectrum who break stereotypes and chase their dreams.

Oscar Yura Dompas, a kid with autism who is a prolific writer (Photo: Teman Autis)

Among them is Oscar Yura Dompas, an Indonesian author with autism who has written three books: Autistic Journey, The Life of the Autistic Kid Who Never Gives Up, and Menaklukkan Autis. His story, shared widely by Teman Autis, reminds everyone that potential is not measured by labels but by perseverance.

The community also features adult professionals with autism who have thrived in their careers for over a decade—powerful proof that inclusion benefits everyone.

A future woven with kindness

What started as frustration over bullying has grown into a quiet revolution of empathy. Alvinia and her team continue to nurture awareness, one story, one family, and one conversation at a time.

Through Teman Autis, they’re weaving a new narrative for Indonesia—one that celebrates neurodiversity instead of fearing it.

In her calm yet passionate way, Alvinia summed up her journey:

“Teman Autis is a place to learn, share, and grow together. I just hope that one day, when someone says the word autis, it won’t be as an insult—but as a reminder of strength, love, and uniqueness.”

Perhaps that’s what her movement truly stands for: a future where understanding replaces stigma, and where every difference, like a bright thread in a vast tapestry, makes the world more beautiful.

A world of mutual understanding

I’d like to conclude this article with a poem by Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay.

Men and women are puzzled by everything  I do

Doctors use different terminologies to describe me

I just  wonder

The thoughts are bigger than I can express

Every move that I make  shows how trapped I feel

Under the continuous flow of happenings

The  effect of a cause becomes the cause of another effect

And I wonder

I think  about the times when I change the environment around me

With the help of my  imagination

I can go places that do not exist

And they are like beautiful  dreams.

But it is a world full of improbabilities

Racing towards  uncertainty.

 

This poem does capture the inner experience of being autistic. Tito has been feeling misunderstood and labeled by others, yet struggling to express thoughts that are “bigger than he can express.” Feeling trapped in a world that moves too fast, also overwhelmed by constant stimuli where “the effect of a cause becomes the cause of another effect, Tito is trying to reflect the confusion and emotional intensity that come with navigating a world that doesn’t always make space for difference.

Teman Autis made it possible for paintings by autistic children to be exhibited. (Photo: Teman Autis)

Yet, amid that chaos, the poem reveals a vivid inner world where imagination becomes freedom. Through creative thought, Tito can “go places that do not exist,” finding beauty in a realm beyond reality. Though it is virtually “a world full of improbabilities racing towards uncertainty,” it also shows the unique richness of the autistic mind.

Teman Autis has been there for what it was founded: to feel the sensitivity, appreciate the imagination, and the unique perception intertwined into a different, but deeply human, way of being. For its loving care and impactful action, Teman Autis received the 13^th SATU Indonesia Awards presented by PT Astra International Tbk in 2022 in the group category. This recognition was given for their contribution to raising awareness and educating the public about autism in Indonesia.