We know from our experts by experience that hearing from others who have had similar experiences can be helpful. It may help to show you that you are not alone and there are people who understand.
Our experts by experience are so passionate about sharing their stories, celebrating autism, and advocating for other autistic young people.
“Finding out that I am autistic for me was life-changing. Not because something had changed about me, for I have always been autistic, but something changed within me and my attitude towards myself.
I began to accept, unmask and finally understand who I was after 15 years of hiding and rejecting myself; then blaming myself for the consequences of that. I didn’t know who I truly was, what I liked away from what I thought I was supposed to – and others only knew the masked version of me. So then receiving my autism diagnosis allowed me to reconnect with the world in a way I find meaningful but more importantly connect with myself so I could shape and build a future I truly wanted.
I am proud of being autistic, it makes me who I am. Even when I encounter challenges, I now do not blame myself for being ‘broken’. I know it is because many aspects of the world aren’t designed for autistic people, but understanding this just empowers me to fight for change, by being my authentic autistic self.
Being diagnosed as autistic was and forever will be the best thing, now I can live my life in a way I love and works for me, away from what society says it should look like, and I really wouldn’t change it for the world.”
– Rachel
“Discovering I’m autistic changed everything for me. It explained why I excelled in certain things, and why I found aspects of life more challenging.
For years I felt like I was wrong, broken, I didn’t fit in, and I felt like everyone around me had read a book about what to do, how to behave, what to talk about and how to act in social situations, and I didn’t get the book. I tried to copy others and mask who I was and how I felt to try and fit in and because I didn’t think who I was, was okay.
Understanding that I’m autistic explained so many of these feelings, and I realised that I do process the world differently, but being different is okay and, in fact, something I now celebrate and have grown to love. Not only has it helped me heal my relationship with myself, but it also helped my family and friends better understand me and support me.”
– Fiona