A #MyAutismJourney story by Blaine Schembri 

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 wake her every night, keeping her up for hours for 6 years straight. Learning about my diagnosis as a teenager brought more questions than answers, and I was not prepared how I was going to cope. Most of my understanding came from professionals, but a large part was through self-discovery and endurance trials. I experimented, sometimes at the cost of my health, to understand how my mind worked. This personal journey also allowed me to guide and support others on the spectrum, sharing insights about what to expect and how to navigate challenges. Support from friends and family became essential, though I often masked my condition to avoid judgement. Even today, many people struggle to understand how I continue to navigate as an autistic person. 

I started working at the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) as a Disability Equality Training Officer in 2022. Alongside colleagues who are also people with disability, I deliver sessions to schools and organizations to challenge stereotypes and educate children about disability. My condition does not help me do my job more efficiently, I use it to bring up stories of my journeys whenever I’m performing DET sessions and remind people I am not like most people with autism. 

My piece of advice to someone who has recently been diagnosed with autism is to have patience. There will be many times when life will be brutal and unfair to you, where it’s overwhelming to manage everything. It’s okay to feel vulnerable but never quit.