“I put on a show for the sake of others, all the while denying myself the opportunity to live authentically.”
‘I spent my whole life trying to fit in, suppressing the things about me that made me different.’: Woman diagnosed with autism at 41
‘Scott was in bed Googling autism. ‘This is me, isn’t it?’: Mom urges ‘radical’ acceptance after whole family diagnosed with autism, ADHD
“I was now the only neurotypical person in the house.”
‘If you can empathize with others, you’re not autistic.’ I wondered if I was an alien.’: Nonbinary person shares long journey to autism diagnosis, urges ‘knowledge about autism can save lives’
“‘You’re not trying enough.’ They gave me even more diagnoses, so I worked on them a lot. But nothing helped. It made me hopeless. Now, I know I was working on the wrong disorders.”
Living with Autism, I Have a Fear of Being ‘Found Out’
“I deleted the hashtag, and it hasn’t gone back up since. On the same day, I posted about autistic pride. I was still afraid. Maybe if I pretend I don’t have autism, it won’t be an issue in my professional life.”
‘Yes, I am autistic, and no, I am not a r*tard.’: Proud mom shares autistic daughter’s inspirational poem, ‘I am NOT hiding, I am proud.’
“I didn’t want to seem like I was crazy. Believe me, I hate my autism as much as you do, but it is also a part of me.”
‘Will you be giving birth here or in the States?’ As soon as I heard that heartbeat, I knew my life was about to go down a very different path.’: Single mom travels the world with daughter
“We’ll be moving forward, hand in hand, for the rest of our lives. I’ve searched the world for love and she was within me the whole time.”
‘The morning AFTER walking the stage and receiving my diploma in active labor, I delivered a handsome baby boy.’: Teen mom shares son’s autism diagnosis
“Just a day out of high school, I’d become responsible for a whole new life. I was in complete control of our future… until I wasn’t. I put it on the back burner, thinking maybe he’ll ‘grow out of it.’”
‘There’s something missing in your son.’ I brushed it off as him being ADD like me. I felt guilty and angry.’: Neurodivergent mom to son with autism urges ‘self-empowerment’ for others like her
“‘R*tard’ and ‘lunatic’ became my ‘pet names.’ We still haven’t received a call for an ‘official diagnosis.’ So, I started my own research. I don’t want other children to suffer as I did.”
‘I knew AS SOON as he walked into the room.’ People think he’s possessed.’: Mom advocates for son with nonverbal autism, ‘Love needs no words’
“’His needs are quite severe.’ I always had a smile on my face, but each time I broke a little more inside. But I’m not ashamed of him and NEVER will be.”
‘I was at work when I noticed a strange feeling and excused myself to the restroom. In shock, I found crimson red trickling down my legs.’: Mom births preemie rainbow baby with autism
“I went to stand up, and blood poured down my legs and all over the floor. I remember almost fainting; my husband called 911 and an ambulance rushed me to the emergency room. To our surprise, we saw a baby bouncing around on the screen of the ultrasound. The doctors were baffled.”
