I have Asperger’s and PDD-NOS. During infancy I struggled with noticing others. I didn’t talk until I was two or three and didn’t speak full sentences until I was three or four. Due to my delayed speech, I struggled with telling people my wants and needs. When I was a preschooler, I was shy and quiet and didn’t know how to start games and conversations with others. I went to a neurologist who diagnosed me with autism when I was three. I went to a school for children with autism for preschool. From ages five to twelve, I went to a private special needs school.
During childhood and early adolescence, I was passive. People bullied me and took advantage of me. I became more assertive during adolescence, but still struggled with knowing when people took advantage of me and made fun of me. I also struggled with social cues, body language, social norms, and social appropriateness. I had acts of aggression and egocentrism. I had meltdowns, which are outbursts of screaming and crying. I often got made fun of, taken advantage of, discriminated against, underestimated, and avoided.
People lied to me to make me feel better. I want people to give me a chance by being honest and talking things out with me when I upset them so I could improve instead of avoiding me and lying. I am more honest than most people.
In college, I had an Asperger’s specialist who helped me with decisions, time management, behavior, remaining calm, other points of view, social skills, and social cues. He helped me realize many of my weaknesses so I could change.
I have unique talents. I memorize many birthdays and ages with little or no effort. I remember being an infant. I work well with children, animals, and elderly people. I can solve Rubik’s cubes and shapes. I’m strongly interested in medicine, disabilities, psychology, and child development and know more about them than most people. I want to educate society about autism to decrease discrimination, bullying, and abuse towards those with it.
Garnet Valley, PA
