This guest post is by Kyah Lawe, a graduating Grade 12 student, artist, entrepreneur, musician, and aspiring helping professional. She plans to begin an outdoor adventure and leadership program that provides college credit before pursuing studies in nursing, audiology, or a related field. Kyah is applying for the Spring 2026 Making a Difference Autism Scholarship through KFM Making a Difference, the nonprofit founded by Kerry Magro. Kerry was nonspeaking until age 2.5 and was diagnosed with autism at 4.
Autistics on Autism: The Next Chapter shares stories from more than 100 autistic adults about what helped them while growing up and pursuing their dreams. All proceeds support KFM Making a Difference initiatives, including this scholarship program. To invite Kerry to speak at your school, company, or organization, submit an inquiry here.
By Kyah Lawe
I have faced significant social, health, and academic challenges. With support, hard work, and my own determination, I have been able to grow beyond many of them and let my strengths shine. Now I want to help other people reach their potential, too.
Significant Challenges as a Child
At age nine, I was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Growing up, I experienced challenges in several areas.
Social challenges: I had trouble making friends. I wanted connection, but I often came home from social activities crying because I felt rejected and did not understand why.
Health challenges: As a baby, I experienced developmental and speech delays and worked with occupational therapists, physical therapists, doctors, and other professionals. Throughout childhood, I also dealt with frequent, debilitating stomach pain.
Academic challenges: Attention and learning differences left me several grade levels behind my peers in key subjects. Schoolwork could be frustrating, and sometimes I wanted to cry, become angry, or be left alone.
Learning Through Support and Sacrifice
Along with traditional therapies, my family pursued some less common approaches, including a highly restrictive eating plan and an intensive program designed to help me become more interested in social connection. These were demanding parts of my childhood, and I remember the discipline and sacrifice they required. I am sharing them as part of my personal experience, not as medical advice.
For four years, I went to school and social events without eating desserts or processed foods. I had many chances to choose differently, but I stayed committed. Over time, I also learned to enjoy the way I was eating.
During the social-development program, we put most conventional schoolwork aside for a period and focused on connection. I am thankful to the people who loved me enough to work alongside me. Once I truly wanted to learn, I became a learning machine!
Challenges Can Become Strengths
Social strengths: Today I have strong relationships and regularly attend events in my community. I have a close-knit group of friends, and we meet weekly. I enjoy sleepovers, and people tell me I make new friends easily.
One girl I had attended church with for years once stood in front of the congregation and said she had not really noticed me before, but now saw how awesome I was. Another friend later wrote me a birthday message with a similar idea. Some people said it was as if I had “woken up.” Both girls are still among my best friends.
Health and physical strengths: I no longer experience the chronic stomach pain that once stopped me in my tracks. I try to make balanced choices and take care of my body. I earned a brown belt in Taekwondo before moving into a challenging strength-training class that I attend about three times each week. I am grateful for that strength as I prepare for an eight-month outdoor adventure and leadership program.
Academic strengths: I caught up in school even though I had once been years behind. I now earn almost all A’s in challenging, mostly honours-level courses and am graduating on time. A teacher once said this kind of progress would be impossible. This year I completed Pre-Calculus with a final grade of B. I work hard every day, and I am proud to be a smart student.
Letting My Natural Gifts Shine
Like many autistic people, I have characteristics that become powerful strengths. I can focus intensely on subjects I enjoy, and I see and approach things in my own way. I have nurtured gifts in art, music, creative work, and writing. When I care about something, I stay focused until I reach my goal.
Art: I love drawing and working in different art forms. Once, several of my older sister’s friends gathered around me and patiently waited as I showed them drawing after drawing. Hearing their excitement about my work made me feel proud.
Creating and entrepreneurship: Years ago, I discovered realistic “Reborn” baby dolls online. I took several classes, learned from an experienced artist, and developed my skills. I eventually sold my third doll to a buyer in Norway for $436. That accomplishment showed me that creativity, patience, and careful attention to detail can become entrepreneurial strengths.
Music: I have taken lessons in voice, violin, or trumpet for about six years. I sing with a community choir and on a worship team at church. People sometimes tell me they are amazed by how confidently I sing in front of others.
Creative writing: I have taken extra writing lessons for years simply because I enjoy them. I read voraciously, write for fun whenever I can, and am working on a novel.
My Future in Helping Others
After graduation, I will spend two summers training and serving at a children’s camp. Between those summers, I will begin an eight-month outdoor adventure and leadership program and earn college credit. Later, I plan to pursue nursing, audiology, or another helping profession.
I know what it is like to need a wide community of people who believe in you. Their support did not erase the work I had to do, but it helped me discover what I could become. I am excited to use my growing confidence, empathy, creativity, and determination to help other people face their own challenges and reach their potential.
Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also autistic, founded KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help autistic students receive scholarship support for post-secondary education. Help us continue this work by making a tax-deductible donation here.
You can also invite Kerry to speak at your next event by submitting an inquiry here. Kerry speaks with schools, businesses, government agencies, colleges, nonprofits, parent groups, and conferences on autism, employment, college success, mental health, inclusion, and bullying prevention.
