I am first and foremost a person. I am challenged by a hidden disability called Autism or what is referred to as a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (POD).I am not primarily “autistic”.

People with autism have different abilities and disabilities: Some may not speak, some can write beautiful poetry, others are whizzes in math.

All of us have difficulty communicating with others. I am a concrete thinker: I interpret language literally. It is so hard to understand people or be understood. Making friends is the most difficult of all.

Autism is a sensory processing problem. I feel so over whelmed by all the smells, sounds, and people. My brain can’t filter all the inputs and am in overload. I often have to get away from all the commotion to calm down.

People with autism often do things to help themselves feel more comfortable. It is called “Self stimulation “ or “stimming”. I might rock, hum, flick my fingers in my face, flap my arms, twist my fingers or any number of different things.

 Changes in routine and unpredictability make me angry and aggressive. People then say that I am ‘violent’ and are afraid of me. But I am the one who’s afraid. Please try to identify what triggers my tantrums.

I am a unique person. Please help me. Please understand my problems. Please focus and build on what I can do rather than what I can’t do.