A #MyAutismJourney story by Emily Slater
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 one of my most endearing traits. Before my diagnosis, I often lined up my toys and spent break times alone at school. I also sometimes lashed out in primary school, which led a teacher to suggest to my parents that I might be autistic. A few years later, after visiting a psychologist, I received my diagnosis.
I remember feeling a sense of relief. Everything I did suddenly made sense. Autism explained my behaviours and why I did things differently from others. I think I cried when my mother told me, but it was a mix of emotions: relief, understanding, and acceptance.
At first, learning I was autistic made me feel different from everyone else, which was hard. But over time, I’ve come to accept and even embrace being autistic. Watching autistic people share their experiences on YouTube and TikTok has given me a much more positive outlook and helped me see the strengths and uniqueness of being autistic.
It would have helped more to see more and better representation of autistic people. The representations I knew of when I was younger were from Rain Man and The Big Bang Theory. Both focused on male characters and highlighted almost superhuman abilities with numbers, which can give the impression that autism only occurs in males or that being autistic automatically means being extremely intelligent but socially isolated. More diverse and realistic representation would have made a big difference.
Listening to my favourite song and stimming to it always lifts my mood. Stimming helps me manage sensory input and makes me feel good in the moment.
My advice to someone who has recently been diagnosed with autism is, it may sound cliché, but things do get better, even if it feels overwhelming at first. Take things one day at a time and remember that feeling and experiencing the world differently doesn’t mean you’re broken. There’s nothing wrong with being autistic, and there’s nothing wrong with you.