During the past year, Merrick resident Nattie Martin emerged as a powerful and thoughtful voice for autism acceptance and neurodiversity — and her advocacy has left a lasting mark on schools, community spaces, and stages across the hamlet.
A 17-year-old senior at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, Martin has spent the past year educating peers, parents, educators, and the community about autism from a perspective that is still too rarely heard — her own. Through public presentations, school advocacy, theater initiatives, and volunteer efforts, she has helped shift how neurodiversity is understood and discussed throughout Merrick.
As a result of that work, Martin has been named the Merrick Herald’s 2025 Person of the Year.
Martin is a lifelong Merrick resident who attended Chatterton Elementary School and Merrick Avenue Middle School before enrolling at Calhoun. Diagnosed with autism just before the age of 3, her parents, Peter and Jessica Martin, said they focused early on helping their daughter understand herself — not as someone who needed to be “fixed,” but as someone whose brain simply works differently.
“She always knew she was different,” Peter said. “She would ask questions like, ‘Is there a name for how my brain works?’ That curiosity really stayed with her.”
While Nattie said she always loved learning and the arts, it was during middle school — amid the isolation of the pandemic and the social challenges that came with it — that she first felt compelled to speak publicly about neurodiversity.
“I didn’t feel understood by a lot of people,” Nattie said. “Neurodiversity wasn’t really talked about in school, and a lot of misinformation was coming from people who hadn’t lived that experience.”
At 13, she gave her first presentation after school at Merrick Avenue Middle School to a small group of students, but the response stayed with her.
“She came home energized,” Jessica said. “Even though it was a difficult time socially, that was the moment we saw how powerful it could be for her to turn those experiences into something positive.”
When Nattie arrived at Calhoun, that advocacy only grew. Over the past year, she delivered presentations at Chatterton Elementary, health classes at Calhoun High School, an all-ages program at the Merrick Library during Autism Acceptance Month, and a meeting of the Merrick SEPTA attended by parents, educators, and administrators.
Meira Broderick, assistant director at the Merrick Library, coordinated Martin’s April presentation and said the impact was immediate.
“We often bring in therapists or counselors to speak to parents,” Broderick said. “It was really unique to have a high schooler speak directly from lived experience. It was completely different hearing it from her.”
Broderick said the room was full, questions were thoughtful, and children in attendance felt comfortable speaking up.
“One child raised his hand and said he was autistic and different from everyone else, but still special,” she recalled. “And Nattie immediately affirmed him. She was incredibly encouraging to kids of all ages.”
Martin’s advocacy also reached the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s Board of Education, where she spoke as a sophomore about replacing the puzzle piece symbol for autism with the infinity symbol.
“That was a moment where we realized people were really listening,” Peter said. “She wasn’t just sharing her story — she was changing the conversation.”
“That was when I realized my voice could actually make a difference,” Nattie said. “It wasn’t just a side project anymore — it became part of my life.”
Alongside her advocacy, Martin is deeply involved in the arts. She is a member of Calhoun’s On Tour Company, the districtwide drama program, and the school’s choir. Her parents said theater became an important outlet for her at a young age, helping her manage anxiety and find a sense of belonging.
“Putting her in theater was very intentional,” Jessica said. “It gave her a space where she felt confident and accepted.”
James Crichton, director of the On Tour Company, said Martin stands out both in and out of the classroom.
“She’s extremely bright, empathetic, and fearless in her sense of play,” Crichton said. “She always comes prepared, always goes the extra mile, and brings something meaningful to every conversation.”
Last spring, Nattie approached Crichton with an idea that would merge her two passions — advocacy and theater. Drawing from her experiences attending sensory-friendly Broadway performances through the Theater Development Fund, she proposed Calhoun’s first-ever sensory-friendly school production.
“She came to me with research, documentation, and a clear vision,” Crichton said. “I was immediately captivated.”
Martin is now serving as the accessibility consultant and sensory-friendly performance coordinator for Calhoun’s January production of “The Old Man and the Old Moon,” working alongside special education staff to create a welcoming environment for audience members with sensory sensitivities.
“I think theater should be accessible to everyone,” Martin said. “Everyone deserves to enjoy it, no matter what accommodations they may need.”
Through the Neurodiversity Advocacy Club she founded at Calhoun, Martin also organized a donation drive benefiting GirlAgain, a nonprofit-run American Girl resale store in White Plains that trains and employs young autistic women — an effort her parents said reflected her concern for autistic people across the lifespan.
“She’s always thinking about what happens next — adulthood, employment, independence,” Jessica said. “She wants the world to be ready.”
Despite a demanding schedule of honors, Advanced Placement and college-level courses, Martin was recently selected for an internship with Chatterton On Stage, her former elementary school’s after-school drama program, where she is helping younger students prepare for their production.
Looking ahead, she said she hopes the initiatives she helped launch — especially the sensory-friendly performances — will continue after she graduates.
“I never expected any of this to become so big,” Nattie said. “But knowing I can make an impact, even in small ways, makes it all worth it.”
For her parents, watching her journey has been both emotional and affirming.
“She’s teaching people every day that autism isn’t something to be afraid of,” Peter said. “It’s just part of who she is.”
For those who have watched her grow up in Merrick, that impact feels anything but small.
“It’s been a pleasure to see how she’s grown and what she’s doing for the community,” Broderick said. “I’m excited to see where she goes next.”
