Living Autistic: My Story

  Many folks are interested in or know that there are people with autism today. But did you know that autism has its own logo and that we on the spectrum also have our own awareness day? They say, "If you've met one person with autism, you've only met one person with autism," because we on the spectrum are as diverse as any other neurotypicals. Perhaps that's why autism logos come in so many different colors and symbolize a puzzle with many different pieces, yet all fitting together. World Autism Day is an internationally recognized day celebrated every year on April 2nd. The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly and adopted on November 1st, 2007. The goal of the observance is to encourage member states of the United Nations to take action to increase awareness about individuals with autism worldwide. "Light it Up Blue" is a slogan you may hear during the month of April. This campaign encourages people to light up their homes with blu...

  In my childhood, I often found myself isolating, preferring to read Donald Duck alone rather than play with other kids. Not because I didn't want to join in, but because the social aspect of play was hard to grasp, and I often felt clumsy. It seemed safer to keep to myself. Even on family outings and events, I'd bury myself in magazines and books while other kids tried unsuccessfully to get me involved in activities. Despite the isolation, I was incredibly chatty. The world seemed puzzling, so I'd kick off every conversation with "why this and why that?" My questions could range from the most peculiar topics, and I'd collect facts that other kids my age might not care about. For instance, I was obsessed with snowfall records in Tromsø in 1997 and the extremely mild winter in Southern Norway in 1998. There probably weren't many in my class worrying about melting glaciers when they were 10 years old. I wondered if I was different from the other kids, but I...

  I come from a family that's above average fascinated by orienteering and outdoor life. Both in days of yore and in more recent times, we've racked up plenty of achievements in various outdoor pursuits, something both me and my family take pride in. But as an autistic person, it hasn't always been easy keepin' up with the family's pace. This is probably because us folks on the spectrum tend to struggle with sleep and often have poor fine motor skills (which I make up for with some mighty fine gross motor skills!). But on the bright side, I'm good at keepin' myself on my feet! My autism has also given me some unique characteristics and advantages. For instance, I have a unique ability to navigate and read the landscape, something I believe I can thank my autism for. Facts from maps stick in my mind like they're from an encyclopedia, and if I've been on a hike somewhere once, well, I remember every single nook and cranny! And I've probably surpris...