ARCANUM – April is designated as National Autism Month. It’s a month to raise awareness, promote understanding and celebrate the diverse talents and contributions of individuals on the autism spectrum.
The United Nations General Assembly declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day to highlight the need to improve the quality of life of those with autism so that they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society
Who’s better to help locally in learning all about autism?
Featured here is a 35-year-old Micah Barga, an Arcanum man who is living it and doing it well.
“I was diagnosed with high-functioning autism at 4 years old,” said Barga, who graduated from Arcanum High School in 2008.
Not only did he complete high school, but he also received Multimedia Certification from Sinclair Community College in 2012 and an Associate of Applied Business degree in Computer Information Technology/Computer Games and Simulation Programming and Design from Edison Community College in 2013.
Now, he not only has one part-time job but two….at the Darke County Courthouse (Clerk of Courts division), for four years, where he is as an assistant deputy clerk filing documents, and at Taco Bell as a crew member, where he cleans/sanitizes the store.
And that’s not all he does.
“I make video games, cartoons, and I dance, which I’m well-known for in Arcanum,” he said. “I also have my own series titled ‘The Adventures of Micah’, which I hope to adapt into a real series someday with the goal of getting video games, movies, and its own TV show made. I have made a number of impressions already with my autism and achievements, starting with this newspaper article published back in May 2020.”
He lives alone and is driving a vehicle.
He is the son of Tina Huddle McClanahan and husband Kyle McCanahan and Jeff Barga, whose wife, Linda Jo “LJ” Barga, is deceased. Micah said his mentors have been his parents.
How did Autism affect him after the diagnosis?
“I always had difficulty interacting and building relationships with others, and to some level, I still do to this day,” he replied. ”It’s just not as difficult as it was in the beginning.”
His advice to those who are affected by autism today?
“Parents who have children with autism need to be patient and resolve any issues or hardships their children are experiencing with compassion and understanding,” he said. “Children who have autism need to be themselves and know they are perfect the way they are. God made each and every one of us unique, so being different is nothing to be ashamed of. If somebody gives you a hard time, just walk away.”
He went on, “When I was a kid, there was little to no knowledge, awareness, or programs that assisted those on the spectrum, and, because of it, I was the subject of bullying, exile, ridicule, and so on. I felt as if society was punishing me for being different, and that I was supposed to be exactly like everyone else, whether it was the interests that I had, the meals that I ate, etc. I have had a lot of family support, most of which came from my mom, as she always encouraged me to never give up and to keep trying whenever I was in a rut.”
His mother offered, “Raising a child with autism is challenging, especially when you have had no experience. You have to depend on your resources. It was a pure joy raising him, but challenging at times when he was unable to communicate what he was feeling and would have a great bit of anger. As he got older, he was able to comprehend a good bit more. I always told him there was no race to get to the finish line. He has an associate degree due to resources and against all odds.”
Micah’s interest in video games has been ongoing.
“I’ve always liked video games. I’ve been playing them since I was 5,” he said. “One day, back in summer 2000 at the age of 10, I got the idea of creating a series that would feature my family, friends, peers, and me. From there, I just went with my inspiration.”
Where did he learn to dance?
“At a wedding back on Labor Day weekend in 1999,” he responded. “Fast forward to November 2001, I attended my first school dance in sixth grade at the age of 11. I just started moving rhythmically to songs, and somehow, everybody was impressed (students, teachers, parents, etc.).”
His spare time is spent working on his video games, cartoons, or other projects that come to his mind.
Micah said he enjoys living alone. He does some cooking to an extent, but not all of the time.
“Here are two websites where you can check out my video games. If you want to download/install them on your computer, go to the Game Jolt page. If you just want to play them, go to GX Games:
The series that I mentioned earlier is titled “The Adventures of Micah”. I am hoping to adapt it into a real series someday with the goal of getting video games, movies, and its own TV show made. Here is the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theadventuresofmicah
I’ve also written books on the series, which can be checked out here: https://theadventuresofmicahgoogleblogging.blogspot.com/
