Okay, to start this blog, I thought I’d begin with talking about what it is like to be undiagnosed, or have it unknown. This is mainly for those who have what was originally known as Asperger’s Syndrome, which shares some features of autism, but has key differences, such as no delay in language skills, consistent above-average intelligence and a difference in brain development that is not the same as the brain development shown in autism. Additionally, the obsessive interests that are associated with autism are actually a feature of Asperger’s that became a feature of autism when the Asperger’s diagnosis was no longer used.

Any child with undiagnosed autism that can function in a school with other kids will have difficulties. An autistic seven-year-old child I’ve worked with in a classroom – let’s call him R – was convinced that everyone in the class tried to annoy him on purpose, and had the idea that everyone was laughing at him. This paranoia was something I had around that same age, but in my case, there were a few more times when it was justified. Most kids in this class left R alone. However, he had been diagnosed. I hadn’t.

Anyone undiagnosed will have it harder than those who aren’t diagnosed. Schools are a cruel and harsh time, and almost every child with autism will get bullied, and if they’re undiagnosed, it will be much harder for them to get any support or to have any idea how to stand up for themselves without breaking down. They’re also less likely to have a group of friends, so that’s going to make things worse. It has been documented that those with autism diagnosed late in life are more likely to have depression, and more likely to commit suicide.

Even worse, adults in schools will notice a slight difference in undiagnosed students, and insist they be tested for intellectual disorders, emotional disorders, and any other kind, putting the student through more stress and support they don’t want. It feels awful to be considered someone who needs support with schoolwork when your IQ is above 100 and saying no just convinces everyone that you need support more than ever.

I know there are a few of you who picked on me in high school that remember this kind of behaviour around me. So next time you remember doing anything, think about this. You didn’t know the whole story.

Hi! Welcome to my blog. In 2017, I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, a condition where the affected have a neurological condition that means their brain develops differently, causing sharper senses, honesty, an ability to notice little details, and social awkwardness or a liking for being alone. Symptoms vary from person to person – no two people with autism are alike. The purpose of my blog is to raise awareness. Someone on YouTube insisted that autism means the affected are stupid. Autism Speaks, an infamous charity, refuses to actually get opinions from the affected. This blog is here to tell you that no, we are not stupid. We deserve to be heard. And everyone deserves to know what it’s like, so we can be respected, understood, and we will no longer be excluded from the career paths we choose to take.