This guest post is by Blejan Ferguson, a high school senior from Oregon who plans to begin at Columbia Gorge Community College before pursuing psychology and speech-language pathology. Blejan 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 Blejan Ferguson
I was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and Asperger’s syndrome (autism) around age 5, after my kindergarten teacher suggested to my mom that I should be evaluated. My mom and granny took me to a doctor who worked with children like me. She watched how I played with toys in her office and diagnosed me. Ever since I was a baby, I acted differently in ways that seemed unusual to my parents, but they could not quite identify why. When I was 4 or 5, I disliked hugs from anyone and would instead hit kids I liked as a way of showing affection! It made them cry, which confused me because I thought I was being affectionate.
Elementary school felt hard for me despite having good friends around me. I struggled with regulating my emotions and experienced levels of anxiety that my friends did not appear to have. I cried when I became overwhelmed or stressed and had to sit in the hallway to have space. I was occasionally pulled out of class by a teacher who specialized in supporting students with disabilities and taken to the “Motor Room,” a room with obstacles where I could release energy.
Sixth grade was also difficult because I transferred to a new school where I did not know anyone, and I felt left out and stressed. I was homeschooled for seventh and eighth grades during the COVID pandemic, which allowed me to work at my own pace and learn how to take good notes. High school has been great for me, from ninth grade through 12th, where I am now. I have a close group of friends, get good grades, and struggle less with regulating my emotions.
My mom took time over many years of my early life to explain that my brain worked differently from those of other kids and that it was okay to feel different. It was overwhelming to take it all in when I was much younger, but now that I am older, I understand how to handle my anxiety and emotions much better. I take good notes in school, observe other people’s emotions easily, keep my anxiety under control, and make people feel happy around me.
I watched as my autism helped me connect with other neurodivergent kids around me. We became fast friends and truly understood one another. I have helped pick up garbage around my town many times, both with groups and by myself. I also decided to join my school’s track team because of my friends, and I have become very good at running. Over many years, I have also learned how to be great at giving hugs! I learned that being sensitive and emotional is not always a bad thing because it helps me notice what others may not—what people are feeling or what they need from me.
In school, I was a teacher’s assistant, helping special education teachers support students whose needs differed from mine, including students with physical or intellectual disabilities. I really enjoyed working with them because they were funny, genuine, and fun to be around. They always called my name when they saw me or gave me a high five in the hallway. Supporting their growth helped me understand my own struggles and myself more, and it made it much easier for me to work with them.
My autism gives me a completely different view of the world, which encourages my love of nature and inspires my creativity when I draw dragons. I also remember reading a book in elementary school called Superflex, which was about a child who used positive feelings to defeat negative ones. I remember being told that I had a “rock brain,” which meant I would get stuck on a problem and remain upset.
It can be unusually uncomfortable to tell new people that I am autistic because they may not want to talk about it, become hesitant, or accuse me of not “appearing autistic.” I enjoy explaining myself to other people now because it is not my problem whether they find it uncomfortable or strange.
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.
