Minutes after walking out of his final grand jury case in Fulton County Superior Court, Malcom Woodson could not believe his eyes – friends and family gathered together to give him a standing ovation. It’s the type of love Woodson said he’s never felt like he deserved.
“I’ve been bullied throughout high school, I never had any friends. I’ve been beat up, spit on, talked about,” Woodson said. “I felt like, since people didn’t want me, why should I even be there? I should just end it all.”
Long before he became the first grand jury member in Fulton County with autism, Woodson said he felt hopeless – but this surprise from his friends and family has proven that self-doubt to be wrong.
“I was just so surprised and so shocked that I’m the man of honor,” Woodson said. “I’m the guest of honor.”
Woodson is a college graduate and works hard for what he has. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said his autism is just part of what makes him special.
“He gets a chance to be more successful because he gets a chance to show people who he really is,” Howard said.
First grand juror with autism celebrated in Fulton County Superior Court
While serving on the jury with 12 other men and women for months, Woodson’s mom, Yvonne Holt, said he made lifelong friends. She said this experience shows that people with disabilities are capable of anything.
“They aren’t trying to change him, they accept him the way he is,” Holt. said. “It pushes us, it pushes him. I’ve always taught him he can do anything he wants, so it just pushes us.”
Now, Woodson said he wants to work with children with disabilities to help them believe in themselves.
“If there are any kids reading this right now, you may not believe you can do great things because of your disability,” Woodson said. “I’m here to tell you that you can. There’s nothing stopping you from reaching your dreams. If I can do it, so can you.”