My Autism

• I have never been a tactile individual. 
• I was non verbal until around the age of 3. 
• I had speech therapy as a child.
• New York labeled me as a disabled child before I was 3.
• New York provided a speech therapist for me.
• I grew up in Illinois.
• I was placed in a special needs preschool class before being main streamed.
• My mom would drop a pan in the kitchen and I never turned around.
• I have always had special interests that I can talk about for hours.
• I have always had social issues.
• Girls weren't really diagnosed with autism back when I was a child.
• I stimmed by rocking in my bed until I went off to college at almost 19.
• I stim by driving in my car in the same areas and roads.
• I used to stim by rocking back and forth as a child.
• I still stim in certain ways with my hands and feet.
• I was misdiagnosed most of my life with depression, ADD and anxiety.
• I have some balance issues.
• I am extremely sensitive to heat.
• I am very sensitive to touch.
• I am very sensitive to certain textures in food, clothing and temperatures.
• My upper body, arms, face and neck are the most sensitive.
• I am not sick.
• I do not need a cure.
• While I think differently, I am a human and am fine.

Happy Autism Awareness Month!!