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Working with neurodivergent individuals has always been a key part of Jojo Levey’s life, as a tutor, family member, and now runner for the Organization for Autism Research. This fall, she’s racing the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, her second marathon with the RUN FOR AUTISM program. She chose OAR as her charity for the race to make the world a more inclusive place for autistic individuals.

When Jojo was 15, she began tutoring a 3^rd, 6^th, and 7^th grader, all siblings who were family friends of hers.  All three children have learning disabilities, and one is also autistic. This experience opened Jojo’s eyes to the importance of providing resources and care for neurodivergent individuals and the frequent lack of sufficient resources. “It was very difficult creating curriculum tailored to different learning styles, but I wanted to give the family proper resources,” she said. So, Jojo sought out educational resources for herself, on a mission to learn how to teach all three kids in the best way possible. Several times a week throughout high school, Jojo worked with them, plus sometimes stepped in as a babysitter and helped carpool to school and activities, growing close to the whole family. “It was a focal part of my adolescent experience,” she said. She began thinking more about disparities in resources and resource allocation for neurodivergent individuals as she watched her three students navigate getting the resources they needed to succeed.  “Why aren’t these resources provided on a grander scale?” she wondered.

When Jojo started thinking about college, her years of tutoring swayed her from a film and journalism focus to becoming a psychology major at NYU. She wanted to use her skill sets and experience with children, as a teacher, and as an advocate to enhance resources for neurodivergent learners.

Her passion for supporting autistic individuals also comes from her family. Jojo has multiple autistic family members, including her aunt and cousin. Her aunt was diagnosed with autism as an adult, with Jojo’s mom acting as a caretaker for many years. “My Mom is a total beast,” Jojo said. Recently, Jojo’s aunt moved into an assisted care home for individuals with autism. There, she lives in a community with others she relates to. “She wants to be normal and not feel ‘othered’” Jojo said. The program allows her to go on excursions, including to theme parks and movies with other autistic individuals. “She gets to do things we never thought possible.” The resources provided are helping her live life to the fullest.

Jojo’s cousin was one of the first people in her life to receive an autism diagnosis. “He’s awesome,” Jojo emphasized. He’s taken challenges and obstacles in stride and applied those lessons to thrive. After trying out baseball, he found cup-stacking and has become a pro at it, finding opportunities to travel the world for competitions. He’s ranked 5^th in cup stacking in the state of California, and is in the top 300 in the world! He’s even donated to Jojo’s fundraising campaign. “I’m really glad people gave him the time and voice to become who he wants to become,” Jojo said.

Through a friend, Jojo found the Organization for Autism Research and RUN FOR AUTISM program in 2024, when she ran the TCS New York City Marathon with OAR. She’s excited to be running for charity again this year with OAR in the 2025 Bank of America Chicago marathon, en route to running all the Abbott World Major marathons. Through it all, she envisions a world that is more inclusive for autistic individuals.  “So much has been done in the last 10 years, including specialized education and positive media portrayal, but there’s still more to be done,” she said.