MADISON – Bethany Stoots knows that diversity exists all around us, and it’s okay to be different. She has authored the book, “Lilly’s Day Coping with Autism.”

Bethany, a 16-year-old junior at Bob Jones High School, also realizes that people shouldn’t treat each other badly.

At two years old, Bethany was diagnosed with autism. “I was too young to notice a change to my life, because I have grown up with the diagnoses,” she said.

The book is Bethany’s unique approach to earn the Gold Award in Girl Scouts. “The project is supposed to help others,” she said.

“As a child being bullied, I grew up feeling different from my classmates. My goal through writing this book is to teach others that it is okay to be different, to normalize autism and that we should not bully or treat one another differently,” Bethany said.

“Lilly’s Day Coping with Autism” reads as story of a single day Lilly’s life and the situations with which she must deal. “(The book) is interactive by asking the reader what their thoughts are in many different situations,” Bethany said.

Bethany’s work is a picture book, not a chapter book written for children. “The book invites the reader to understand the challenges that a little girl faces daily who is diagnosed with autism. It touches on Lilly’s sensory overload disorder, her being bullied and her making a friend,” Bethany said.

Bethany plans to attend Alabama A&M University. “I want to be a social worker, and their program goes all the way through to a master’s degree,” she said.

Bethany has accomplished much progress in her daily life. At Discovery Middle School, Bethany was in band but “required noise-canceling headphones to be anywhere near their concerts, football games or competitions,” family friend Jan Mason said. “Bethany has come so far! She just made section leader for the flute section in Bob Jones Band.”

Bethany’s parents are Robert ‘Bobby’ and Monica Stoots. Bobby works as a truck driver for Roehl Transport Inc. Monica Stoots is General Manager of Advance Auto Parts on South Parkway in Huntsville. Bethany’s 23-year-old sister, Shelby, is a graduate of Bob Jones.

“Lilly’s Day Coping with Autism” is available from Bethany’s publishers, Writers Republic, along with Amazon and Barnes & Noble. For book orders and more information, visit bethanystoots.com.