"Hello
people, my name is Penni Winter, and I’m what’s known as a self-diagnosed,
peer-confirmed aspie, or person with Aspergers. What this means, in my case,
that it took about two or three years of intensive research and reading before I
could accept this new identity, and it took more years and meeting with other
autistics before I felt comfortable in it. It certainly wasn’t a step I took
lightly, or on some kind of whim.
I always
knew that I was ‘different’ ever since I was a young child, and my life
certainly hasn’t been an easy one, as I basically stumbled and bumbled my way
through a world that I didn’t understand, and which didn’t understand me. I suffered
along the way a great deal of personal misery, not to mention chronic
depression and low self-esteem. I spent decades trying to either figure out why
I’m ‘different’, or to transform myself into something more ‘normal’, or to
simply hide the shame of my ‘difference’. I failed badly at all of these tasks,
and eventually concluded there was no
label that fit me, that I was just an inferior specimen, a sort of lemon off
the human production line.
Then several
years back, while I was working as a teacher aide, I was assigned one term to working
with a young girl with Aspergers. I had heard of Aspergers, but didn’t really know
anything about it, so I decided to do some research. Imagine my shock when I
recognised not just my student, but myself, in the descriptions. For the first
time I saw all my idiosyncrasies listed in stark black and white. It was a
revelation, just when I’d decided there was no explanation for my ‘weirdness’. Nonetheless,
for a long time, I really struggled with accepting the idea of being autistic.
In fact, my initial reaction was along the lines of - “Who, me? Autistic?
No *expletive-deleted* way!”
And why?
Firstly, because I don’t fit the common stereotypes of someone with autism or
Aspergers. I was, and still am, a functional, independent adult, with plenty of
verbal ability. I’m also not a child, or male, or any kind of computer geek or
trainspotting nerd, I’m perfectly capable of empathy and compassion, I’m not an
emotionless semi-robot, and I like to think I have a pretty good sense of
humour - I can even do sarcasm, though I do often find it difficult to read
other people’s sarcasm.
Secondly,
the official criteria for autism seemed extremely negative to me, focussing as
they do on rather dry clinical descriptions of autistic ‘deficiencies’. If I
had read only those, I probably would have ended up rejecting the whole idea of
being autistic, because my self-esteem was quite low enough already. Fortunately,
during my forays in the library and on the Internet, I stumbled upon autobiographical
books written by other autistics who I could identify with, and then forums and
Facebook groups run by and for aspies, as I learnt that they – we – call
ourselves. These played a key role in my
coming to accept and even embrace my autism, and, eventually, in finally
ridding myself of my sense of low self-worth.
Because in
the process of getting to know other autistics, I found that the stereotypes
I’d held were demolished and the myths were debunked, as the ‘real’ autistics
emerged from the shadows. Friendships – which had always been problematic for
me – suddenly became much, much easier, as for the first time in my life, I
found people ‘on my wavelength’, who thought, felt, acted and reacted ‘just like
me’. A common reaction amongst us, when something was shared, was “you mean you
do that or feel that too? I thought I was the only one!” So gradually, I began
to think, “hmmm, these people are like me, and yet they’re not terrible people,
quite the opposite in fact, maybe I’m not so bad either…” And so that huge
burden of self-hatred began to slide off my shoulders.
And eventually,
I met other autistics not just online, but in real life as well, most
especially through ASK (Autistic Spectrum Kiwis), the group that I’m part of today. And they accepted me,
just as I am, no need for shame or pretense or hiding my true self anymore. To
someone who spent so long lost in a sort of social wilderness, this still
seems like a minor miracle, and one which has greatly enhanced my life. I
wouldn’t be where I am today, nor I think would I have a life worth living, if it
weren’t for my aspie friends and connections. Because we all need our peer
groups, and autistics truly are no exception.
So
whether it’s for yourself, your child or student, or perhaps a client or
patient, I cannot stress too much the
importance for autistic people of the support and friendship of others on the spectrum
- no matter what age the autistic person is – autistic children have also benefited
from meeting their real peers, and
making friends with ‘others like me’. But without such support and
companionship, even if it’s only online, we are doomed to being always the
‘weirdo’ or the odd one out wherever we go. And I can say from bitter personal
experience, that being that kind of permanent outsider is not the path to a
meaningful and happy life.
Thank
you for listening."
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