The name’s Blaine Schembri, I am 31 years old and I have autism. My hobbies are gaming, watching movies or tv shows, having a nice long walk in peace, alone, with no direction or destination, and listening to some music. I was diagnosed with autism at the age of 8, however my mother didn’t tell me until I was 17. She explained that during my early infancy I had trouble falling asleep and would…
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There’s nothing wrong with being autistic, and there’s nothing wrong with you. Hi, I am Emily Slater. I was diagnosed with autism at 12 years old. Ever since I was young, I’ve had a fascination with dates, times, historical figures, and archaeology. I still find myself sharing random historical facts with people, which they sometimes find annoying, but I think it’s…
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Hi, my name is Jacob Callus, I’m 25 years old and I’m a person living on the autism spectrum. I strongly believe in the notion of “nothing about us without us” and when this relates to the concept of representation, I believe that the strongest voice which can be heard within this sphere is the voice of autistic people themselves. Ultimately…
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The changes our organisation has made to create an Autism Friendly Space have made a real difference to my daily life. Having quieter areas and clearer information means I can feel calmer and less overwhelmed when I’m in the building. It also makes it easier for me to speak up about what I need and feel confident asking for…
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A #MyAutismJourney story by Megan Thorne
A #MyAutismJourney story by Kristian I’m autistic, but sometimes people don’t take it seriously because my autism isn’t always visible. When I tell people, they often think I seem “too normal,” which can make it harder to feel confident speaking up for myself. Over time, I’ve realised that advocacy starts with understanding my own rights and…
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When I started my job, I asked for a few simple adjustments, like lower lighting above my desk and the ability to walk the corridor if I needed to stim and reset. Having those small supports helped me feel more comfortable and confident at work, and now I’m able to give presentations and speak at conferences about autism.
One of the hardest things for me is sensory overload. Bright lights, loud sounds and too many people talking can all feel like too much at once.
