High schoolers hope that their friendship inspires others to befriend those with autism

Trey Kruse and Adam Potter
Trey Kruse, left, and Adam Potter hope to inspire others to reach out to those who have autism. (Photo: ABC News)

Trey Kruse and Adam Potter have been best friends since the second grade — and now they hope their friendship will encourage others to befriend those with autism as well.

“I don’t really think it’s that unusual,” Kruse told ABC News of his friendship with Potter. “I thought he was kind of funny, we talked during class, so I wanted to get to know him better.”

Potter has autism, but their differences have never affected their friendship. “The relationship has never really slowed down,” Kruse’s father, Troy, told the outlet. “You know, it’s really only become stronger.”

Kruse, a captain of his school’s wrestling team, has facilitated many of Potter’s friendships by showing fellow students that the teen is just like any other.

“Because of Trey’s interaction with my son, he set in motion the ability for other kids to start forming relationships with my son. All of a sudden, Adam was coming home and calling all these people his friend,” Potter’s mother, Lisa, said.

“Sometimes you have those moments where you see the kid who is by himself in the cafeteria,” said David, Potter’s dad. “Maybe this will help people take that extra step to go up and say ‘Hi.’”

The friends will soon be going off to college, but for now they see each other twice a day. David jokingly added that Potter “has this checkbox to say ‘Hey, I saw Trey today,’” and anything that happens after seeing his friend will be fine.

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