This guest post is by Ciley who was accepted into Amarillo College. Ciley is applying for the Spring 2026 Making a Difference Autism Scholarship via the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference started by me, Kerry Magro. I was nonspeaking till 2.5 and diagnosed with autism at 4 and you can read more about my organization here.
Autistics on Autism the Next Chapter: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams was released on Amazon on 3/25/25 and looks at the lives over 75 Autistic adults. 100% of the proceeds from this book will go back to supporting our nonprofits many initiatives, like this scholarship program. Check out the book here. Would you like me to travel to speak with your school or company on autism and inclusion? You can contact me here for more details.
My name is Ciley Massengale. I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of eight. My favorite color is purple, I love dinosaurs, and I am passionate about video games. My favorite dinosaur is the Velociraptor, and my favorite game is Minecraft.
Before I was diagnosed, my mom believed I was ignoring her on purpose. Later, doctors discovered that what appeared to be ignoring was actually silent seizures. Receiving my diagnosis changed everything. My mom immediately advocated for me and made sure our family understood that I experienced the world differently.
Growing up, one of my biggest challenges was expressing emotions in ways others expected. At funerals, I felt self-conscious for not crying like everyone else. I worried people would think I did not care. On the other hand, when something exciting happened, like someone expecting a baby, I was not always outwardly energetic. People would ask if I was okay. Learning that emotional expression looks different for autistic individuals helped me better understand myself.
I also struggled with loud, sudden sounds such as fireworks or balloons popping. These sounds would make me tense and anxious. Social misunderstandings were also difficult. In middle school, students created jokes like “autistic turkey.” Even if it was not directly aimed at me, it still hurt. Those experiences taught me resilience.
Despite these challenges, I have grown tremendously. In college, I surprised myself by earning A’s in my first round of classes. I had been afraid I would fail, but I proved to myself that I could succeed.
My creativity has always been my strength. I create characters and imagine entire worlds filled with magic, technology, and diverse individuals. Many of my early characters were alternate versions of myself. Over time, they evolved into fully developed individuals inspired by the world around me.
I dream of building video games that blend imagination with reality. I want to create worlds where differences are normal, where strange and unique characters are celebrated, and where players can explore without judgment. Designing these games feels like opening a window into my creative and sometimes confusing mind.
Autism has shaped the way I see the world, but it has also given me deep imagination, focus, and originality. My goal is to use those strengths to build inclusive, diverse virtual spaces where everyone belongs.
Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue a post-secondary education. Help us continue to help students with autism go to college by making a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit here.
Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum, founded the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship support to pursue post-secondary education. You can help us continue supporting autistic students by making a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit here.
You can also consider having Kerry speak at your next event by submitting an inquiry here. Kerry speaks with schools, businesses, government agencies, colleges, nonprofits, parent groups, and conferences on topics including autism, employment, college success, mental health, inclusion, and bullying prevention.
