Crisis Services
ASERT does not offer crisis services through our Resource Center. If you or someone you love is experiencing mental health distress or thoughts of suicide please call or text 988 for support.
How I See It: How Has Being a Part of the Autistic Community Impacted Me?
About How I See It
How I See It is a series on PAAutism and ASDNext. In each installment, we ask people in the Pennsylvania autism community – individuals, family members, professionals, and more – to share their thoughts on a particular topic. You can see previous installments here.
This month’s topic is How Has Being a Part of the Autistic Community Impacted Me – including both positive and negative ways they have been impacted as an individual on the autism spectrum.
Being a Part of the Autism Community
Out-of-Sync Woman was diagnosed at a young age with Autism even before it was a common diagnosis. It wasn’t until her twenties that she started to become involved in the Autism community. She feels strongly that being part of the Autism community has been good for her and she wouldn’t change this part of herself!
Entering a New Decade: How Has Autism Impacted Me
Khylil reflects on what it’s like to have autism and how his perception of it has changed as he’s grown up. His mom helped him realize that being autistic is “au-some” and in some ways like a superpower. This realization has allowed him to feel closer to himself and more confident. He now spends a lot of time self-reflecting lately on his journeys of weight loss, mental growth, and maturity as an autistic adult.
Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month
Teresa blogs about how autism has impacted her and how her life has changed since her diagnosis two years ago. Despite its challenges, she wouldn’t change this part about herself. She’s learned a lot about herself and autism since then, but the most important thing it’s taught her, is to never give up!
Being a Part of the Autism Community: The Positives, Negatives, and My Indifference
Anne gives her honest opinion how being in the autistic community has impacted her. While there have been lots of positives as she’s learned to better understand and express herself, there are also negatives to this as well. However, from her experiences these negatives often come from outside individuals or organizations who don’t truly understand autism.
How Has Being a Part of the Autism Community Impacted You?
Thomas blogs about his “100% positive” experience as a member of the autistic community. His diagnosis allowed him to gain a better understanding of himself, opened new doors to share his story and use his leadership skills, and provided him with long-lasting friendships!
Autism Awareness Month: What Being Autistic Means to Me
Annie wants readers to know that being part of the autistic community is a good thing. Having autism doesn’t make you different, it just makes you unique in your own way!
Getting Along in the Online Autistic Community
Rachel blogs about the many positives and negatives of the online autism community that she’s experienced. Like most things in life, there are lots of opinions about what means to have autism. She has learned to pick her battles wisely.
Being a Part of the Autism Community
Penny often used to feel different from her peers before she got her autism diagnosis. After she received it, she was able join two autism groups that she really enjoys a lot, where she feels heard and understood. She’s proud to be a member of this fantastic community!
Loving Yourself as Yourself
Like a lot of people, Sarah’s body has changed over the years. Her mental body image, stress, and eating habits changed too. As time went on, she realized that she had developed some bad habits. She was able to ask her parents for help and support during that time. She learned a lot of helpful ways to stay healthy.