From Words to Acceptance: A Special Autism Acceptance Month Event

Aspiritech is once again uniting with Dehkhoda Educational Foundation this spring! On Sunday, April 6, 2025, from 3:00 PM–5:00 PM Central Time, as part of our mission-aligned partner’s Earth Day Celebration and Aspiritech’s month-long Autism Acceptance Month activities, Quality Assurance Analyst Eitan Sacks will perform a reading of his poem about neurodiversity.

A printed version of this poem, which highlights the need to accept differences across the human experience in order to achieve peace, is on permanent display at the Dehkhoda Educational Foundation’s International Servant Leaders Museum Morton Grove, IL.

Aspiritech’s partnership with the Dehkhoda Educational Foundation is built on a shared commitment to servant leadership, inclusion, and community growth. Founders Hamid Akbari and Azar Khounani generously support Aspiritech and other groups dedicated to building a kinder, more just world with space to hold a variety of events, ranging from concerts, panel discussions, and demonstrations to the premier Aspiritech Art Show in November 2024.

“Azar and Hamid commit fully—to their work, their mission, and, lucky for us, their partnership with Aspiritech. In our meetings and involvement with the Dehkhoda Foundation, we’ve felt empowered, validated, and engaged in a way that intensifies our wholehearted devotion to inclusion at every level of our organization and every level of humanity. Servant Leadership and Neurodiversity have a natural synergy that was quite stunning once we discovered it, and we look forward to working with Azar and Hamid for many years to come,” said Robin Kacyn, Aspritech’s Director of Inclusion and Outreach.

Autism Acceptance in April & Beyond

At Aspiritech, autism acceptance isn’t simply a campaign relegated to the month of April. It’s central to our mission and vision, every single day of the year. Amplifying autistic voices and sharing our experiences with inclusion, advocacy, understanding, and celebration forms a cornerstone of our nonprofit, informing every interaction with clients and community members alike.

We believe in creating long-term systemic change by championing employment opportunities for autistic adults, advocating for neurodivergent-friendly workplaces, and fostering a culture where differences are not just accommodated but enthusiastically embraced. Our commitment includes ongoing training programs, partnerships with organizations that share our vision, and direct support for our team members to thrive professionally and personally.

Through participating in events like Dehkhoda Educational Foundation’s Earth Day Celebration, we continue to elevate neurodivergent voices and highlight the importance of authentic inclusion—not as a trend, but as a lasting societal shift. We’re grateful to work alongside allies like Hamid Akbari and Azar Khounani to expand our respective efforts’ reach and reception to new levels.

“We strongly believe in the pursuit of a beloved community as envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In Aspiritech, we have found a beloved community partner—one that listens, empathizes, and fosters inclusivity. These are fundamental practices of servant leadership. Eitan’s poem deeply touches upon the mystic chords of our common humanity. It belongs in our museum,” Hamid and Azar shared with us.

Meet Eitan Sacks

Eitan Sacks has worked at Aspiritech for three years. In addition to his role as a Quality Assurance Analyst, he also runs a monthly gaming Twitch stream with fellow Aspiritech team member Tim Collins, and collaborated with Work Divergent LLC to develop a supports survey for neurodivergent employees.

Eitan had this to say about his poem on permanent display at the International Servant Leaders Museum:

“I don’t know what I was expecting when I wrote this poem other than to express how I was feeling, but I never would’ve expected for it to end up where it is now. I was having a bad day and just simply started writing, intending to express the negativity in my life from the past and the present at the time. But as I continued to write the poem, it emerged as a positive message. I think that speaks to how, even when an individual is experiencing negative things in life, there can be hope and ideas within a person that may almost unintentionally manifest. Just as with life, one never truly knows where a situation is headed, but it can be something that leads to a great outcome in hindsight. I wouldn’t be at Aspiritech had I not dropped out of college when I was following my prior dream of becoming a game designer and therefore would not have written this poem, but now, looking back, perhaps this was the better outcome. All I know is how I feel right now and I would not change my past decision that led me here.”