Autistic Voices: Daniel’s Story
This blog post is from Daniel. He is a young autistic man that lives in our community with a story to share. We hope that his story helps you in your autism journey. This blog space is for all in our autism community to write and share their stories. If you are interested in sharing your story, contact us at info@myautismally.org or 260-207-4686.
Hello! My name is Daniel and I am 30 years old living with autism, I identify as African American and Gay. I am born and raised in the city and state of Fort Wayne, Indiana. I have six siblings and I am the youngest which I was born last in my family. I have a twin sister named Danielle and an older sister Sierra, which are my biological sisters. Me and my two sisters had the same mother and father. My half oldest sister Alisa and half older brothers Jason and Glenn, we had different fathers and same mother. I grew up on the south east side of Fort Wayne when I was in my younger years. It was a rough part of southeast Fort Wayne at the time, where crime happened.
Before I went to elementary school, I was in special education classes. During elementary school, I had help with my classes. It was challenging going to school having autism. You know, having a disability I did not get enough support. My parents did not know what autism was and especially my father did not accept I was autistic. My mother felt what was best at the time when she enrolled me in special education classes and speech therapy. I used to love going to school when I was younger but I never really opened up to people in school as I tried to fit in. It was not the greatest as I was bullied and made fun of by other people. High school was a tough time for me. I was overlooked by people in high school, I was bullied. It was a tough time going to school when my mother was going to pass away. My mother passed away in March of 2011 from COPD/Congestive Heart Failure.
After I graduated from North Side High School in June 2011, I went to Ivy Tech Community College in Fort Wayne from January 2012-May 2013. I studied at Ivy Tech in a minor in Communications and major in English. College life was different but fun as I got to experience that for some time. I did not finish the degree because my father passed away from Leukemia in May of 2013. Having autism in college was a different experience with taking English and Math courses that felt like school again.
When both of my parents died, I was very devastated for sure. My mother’s death it was difficult for me because she died so young. I was nineteen when my mother passed. Both of my parents were sick for a long time especially my father who kept his illness a secret as he did not want any family to know. It is never easy losing parents at a young age. I don’t know how I made it through many years without my parents living. I do miss my parents every day and I know they are proud of the man I am today.
I was tested for autism at a young age but don’t remember the first time I got diagnosed. I was 21 years old when I got the official diagnosis, I was autistic. My condition with autism, what I am going through is how I have to process words and thoughts, make eye contact (over time, I am working on that towards people) being set up by actions of other people, food texture (certain kinds of food that would can cause me to have indigestion issues) pacing and rocking back and forth.
Over time, having autism has been tough but also been a blessing. I learn so many things about myself. Every day I learn something new about myself. My confidence and communication skills have gotten better and I am impressed. I have taken more control how I have more confidence with myself and not being afraid approaching other people.
What I think is not good about having autism, the shortcomings. I wish I had learned like most people and my family being aware more what autism is like. I do feel having autism can be difficult for me at times with strong feelings and trusting other people. I tend to be vulnerable with other people too quickly and not take time to get to know a friend, or somebody I want to date. That is something I will work on in the future. Life will be better if I can work on myself and overcome my obstacles living with autism.
The biggest challenge having autism is being able to develop conversations and new words. Using the same words over and over and pronunciation of words. I have struggled to change the conversation but come up with different words to say next. Especially when I'm talking to someone else. I’m very educated and should never doubt myself speaking. I have to think first before I speak. It would be like I am asking something I want but can't properly ask it the right way. I have to process what I am saying first. It took years to think before I speak. It is just this part of what I am going through.
I started being a writer when I was a teenager writing and drawing my own picture books. I did not get into writing until much later when I did contests and won honorable mention in essays. I developed a passion for writing after I wasn’t able to go to a school carnival and I began writing. Being an author has been rewarding for me that I have felt the best accomplishment for doing that. I am very proud of writing about my experience with autism and sharing what I have gone through with having this. I want to inspire people with autism like myself they do have a voice in this world.
My Voice: Faced with Autism is an autobiography about me having autism. I overcame a lot of difficult times growing up and writing about my experience with autism. It wasn’t easy reliving my past in a book but it was something I wanted to do to move on from the past again. Telling my truth what I went through to be honest and share about my condition with autism. I wrote my story all by myself and it took me a long time to put my book out for the world to read. I still have to tell more of my life story as I am working on part 2 to My Voice. It is my story where I am now and my future.
Having autism, it can be a lot with working on writing projects. It is one thing to challenge to finish something but another thing to write more on a daily basis. Especially setting a time working on my writing. It is hard to find time to write when I write on my own. It is not easy to write set a side time per day to work on your writing. You have to have discipline and effort to write what you want to talk about and work at it.
Being autistic means to me I am unique and I am special. I do accept myself for being autistic today. It took many years to get to being here as I was not fully aware back then what my life would be like at this time. I am glad I got to know what autism is like for me. There have been many reminders how blessed I have been as I manage to accomplish so many, despite having autism. I am truly blessed that I did not give up on myself and will continue to live an example for many others with autism.