I'm a 26 year old from the Philippines currently waiting for the results of the Licensure Examination for Teachers. Ready to share.
I was born with autism as a result of hard labor my mother had at me. Couldn't talk until four years when I started to wandering over the school disrupting classes saying "buddy-buddy-buddy-ohhhh" until my fifth grade when my the classmates took on bullying against me because at the time there were no special ed classes or teacher that will take care at me. On my first year of high school (now Grade 7), some psychologists of a private school took notice about my intelligence higher than normals with autism which was why I was sent to Manila on an almost weekly basis. Still they can't figure out what kind of disorder I have. I stopped schooling the rest of my high school due to it.
Even at college, some classmates can't figure out my behavior. Often I was teased. Completely ignored. Post college, the financial crisis took a toll on my part and the business processing-outsourcing people did not accept me due to my speech difficulties.
The breaking point was the moment my brother stayed at home for 18 months and took over my nights of computer usage. Most of the time he made harsh thoughts about me trying to be like as normal people does. I want him out and he's a physical abuser. Just by refusing to borrow him my laptop he kicked over my head multiple times and threatened to sent me into mental hospital if I did not shut up. Until his attempt to get into the bathroom where I was in cause to lose temper and kicked him out of the house. Even if my sister or mother tried me to forgive him, I chose to move on because he represents negativity in life.
Finally, my mother one day tells me I have Aspergers. I believe that adults with Aspergers deserves a life to the fullest. Now, I am teaching people with intellectual disabilities and I hope someday they would endure too.
Trece Martires City, Cavite, Philippines
