This guest post is by Aidan Reynolds, a young man on the autism spectrum who was diagnosed with Asperger’s and has been accepted into Central Connecticut State University. Aidan is applying for the Spring 2022 Making a Difference Autism Scholarship via the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference started by me, Kerry Magro. I was nonverbal till 2.5 and diagnosed with autism at 4 and you can read more about my organization here. Autistics on Autism: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams, our nonprofit’s new book, will be released on March 29, 2022 on Amazon here for our community to enjoy featuring the stories of 100 autistic adults.
Growing up with Asperger’s has been one of the most challenging aspects of my childhood. I was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome around the first grade, which was the first school year I recall receiving special education support. At the time, I did not realize that I had special education because of my autism; I figured it was just a fun privilege I was lucky to have! It would not be until years later, in my early adolescent years, that I would discover the news.
When my parents first explained the diagnosis when I was 13, I found it unbelievable and refused to acknowledge it. After all, Asperger’s is on the autism spectrum, and given that autism is, by law, considered a disability, I was embarrassed and saw it as a weakness. “That could not be me,” I thought to myself. However, my denial only made things harder for me as I struggled to connect with others and communicate clearly. Not only that, but I also had difficulties adjusting when plans changed and, at times, refused to effectively use the support I had both at home and school. These struggles would persist going into ninth and tenth grade, and, as a result, my grades would suffer, my relationships would dwindle, and my confidence would reach an all-time low.
Thankfully, however, as I entered my junior year of high school, things gradually changed for the better. I had started to mature considerably and better understand what Asperger’s truly is. While I had already known that Asperger’s is a form of autism and those with it often struggle socially, I also learned that the diagnosis comes with several benefits. For example, independence, organization, and often higher intelligence! Absorbing this knowledge was exciting!
Moreover, I have come to understand that everyone is unique in their ways and has their exclusive strengths and weaknesses. For example, just like how some on the spectrum may struggle to communicate and adapt but have strengths in other areas, some people not on the spectrum may excel at socializing. Yet, those same people may have difficulties elsewhere, including the very things some on the spectrum may thrive doing. Obviously, there are numerous exceptions to this example.
Still, these discoveries enabled me to gradually accept and embrace who I was, to start seeing my Asperger’s as a different ability, not a disability. Over time, the returns have paid off! With lots of effort and constant support from my family and teachers, I can self-advocate, participate in class, and frequently communicate with my professors and peers. As a result, I am getting the grades I want, building meaningful connections, and gaining confidence in all areas of my life.
The journey over these past 19 years has been quite memorable thus far. While I have many highlights, I would consider my ability to come to terms with my Asperger’s and turn it into an asset among my top achievements. It was challenging to accept the truth early on. Given how much I struggled academically and socially, I even began to lose hope. However, thanks to my maturity and my enhanced understanding of the diagnosis, I can now grow in ways I never deemed possible before. I am very optimistic about my future, and I hope that my story will inspire people for years to come.
Follow my journey on Facebook, my Facebook Fan Page, Tiktok, Youtube & Instagram,
My name is Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum that started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue post-secondary education. Help support me so I can continue to help students with autism go to college by making a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit here.
Autistics on Autism: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams, will be released on March 29, 2022 on Amazon here for our community to enjoy featuring the stories of 100 autistic adults. 100% of the proceeds from this book will go back to our nonprofit to support initiatives like our autism scholarship program. In addition, this autistic adult’s essay you just read will be featured in a future volume of this book as we plan on making this into a series of books on autistic adults.
