I just had the opportunity to watch Amy Schumer’s Netflix special “Growing” where she reveals for the first time that her husband, Chris Fischer, is on the autism spectrum. I have to say as someone on the autism spectrum who works with teens and adults with special needs in terms of dating advice the quote that stuck out to me the most from the special is when she says…
“And once he was diagnosed, it dawned on me how funny it was, because all of the characteristics that make it clear that he’s on the spectrum are all of the reasons that I fell madly in love with him.”
This comment was so authentically put and is something I wanted to highlight because I’ve heard similar comments time and time again in our autism community. Autism is a spectrum and every individual is different from the next person you will meet however I’ve heard comments from partners such as “My boyfriend is go genuine and he says it’s because he’s on the autism spectrum.”
Amy in the special actually shares that this is something similiar with her husband when she tells the audience that ‘he is unable to lie.’
Later after watching the special I watched a clip of her on Late Night with Seth Meyers where the discussion of her husband’s autism came up again and her perspective her was phenomenal where she said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc6z5coqgTM
“That’s why we both wanted to talk about it because it’s been totally positive. I think a lot of people resist getting diagnosed and even with some of their children because of the stigma that comes along with it, but you’re not just diagnosed and then they throw you out. Hopefully, if you can get help, the tools that we’ve been given have made his life so much better and our marriage and our life more manageable and so, I just wanted to encourage people to not be afraid of that stigma.”
Couldn’t agree more. That stigma can hurt our autism community at times. I’ve seen families avoiding that diagnosis saying things such as, “Oh, my child is a late bloomer!” which can hurt our loved ones in potentially getting supports that can help them immediately.
Kudos to Amy for speaking up about this and I hope nothing but happiness for her and Chris in the future!
Dating can be challenging for some on the autism spectrum. It is also often a topic that doesn’t get discussed enough in terms of the transition to adulthood for those with autism. If anyone wants to learn more about the topic and to continue the conversation here is a blog I wrote titled 10 Things I Wish People Knew About Dating Someone On The Autism Spectrum. I also wrote a book called Autism and Falling in Love based on my journey finding love on the autism spectrum that you can read more about here.
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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.
Have Kerry, one of the only professionally accredited speakers on the spectrum in the country, speak at your next event by sending him an inquiry here. If you have a referral for someone who many want him to speak please reach out as well! Kerry speaks with schools, businesses, government agencies, colleges, nonprofit organizations, parent groups and other special events on topics ranging from employment, how to succeed in college with a learning disability, internal communication, living with autism, bullying prevention, social media best practices, innovation, presentation best practices and much more!
