Jan 17 2009
Autism: Something to be proud of?
Am I proud of my autism?
Well if you were to talk with me about it you may very well get the impression that I am very proud to be autistic. However, if you were to ask me if I was “proud” to be autistic I would think you were being sarcastic.
Who would be proud of the symptoms of autism? The constant stimming, lack of social skills, impulsiveness, and all of the other abnormal symptoms are embarrassing and single me out in the crowd.
The fact that I have become functional to a degree is what I can take pride in. My success in school, ability to work, living outside of an institution, my relationship, and ability to control some of my symptoms of autism are all accomplishments that are definite reasons to be proud.
What I am most proud of is helping others on the spectrum and their families.
So am I proud of my autism? Well to a degree, yes I am. My autism has brought me many opportunities to accomplish things that make me proud. It is not my autism but the resulting successes over the challenges of autism that bring me pride.
Pride in a life that perhaps could have gone much differently, so if that is being proud of my autism, then yes, I am proud of my autism and the success that have resulted from the challenges of it.
