Let me introduce myself. My name is Terry, I am a 54 year old disabled queer white person living in California, USA. My pronouns are they/them.
I have recently had a realization – that I have autism. This awareness has come after half a century of confusion, loss and painful struggle to assimilate into the neurotypical world – to be “normal” (or at least appear so for the others’ sake.)
I have been working with a wonderful therapist who has been helping me process through a series of painful changes – not to mention the side show that has been 2020.
After uncomfortable months of limbo between the “aha” moment and being able to access diagnosis, I have just finished the process. And, it’s official. I am autistic
This blog is a place where I’m attempting to process some of the complex thoughts and emotions that come with discovering autism later in life and the the massive reframe all of this means for my history.
So, thank you for witnessing me on this journey. It is perhaps the most challenging, frightening and vulnerable of my life.
It is my hope to deepen the experience of being human and find connection.
Will my little Blog do this? I don’t know. But, I hope…
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And, now for some disclaimers 🙂
First, all content expressed here are my personal opinions and lived experiences. I may refer to and quote information about autism and autism research. When I do so, I will attempt to include a source if I can. I tend to think and write in absolutes. However, it is not my intention to present myself as any kind of expert or authority on autism.
Second, I have made some intentional languaging choices. One is that I will be using “identity first” language rather than “person first” language. (For example, I will say autistic people or person rather than “people or person with autism”.) I understand this is a point of controversy within the autism community. I have no wish to offend, but must do what makes sense to me and feels right.