If you knew me…
You would know I was nonspeaking at 2 and a half
You would know I was diagnosed with autism at 4
You would know I got kicked out of two preschools
You would know I had extreme sensory-integration difficulties
You would know I would lash out to get attention when I couldn’t communicate on my own
You would know I twirled my hair
You would know that when I was in school, my peers labeled special education “wrong” instead of “special”
You would know I spent hundreds of hours a year in therapy to get to where I am
You would know I spent hundreds of hours being bullied because of my diagnosis
You would know that people would say in similiar cases, individuals with the severity of autism like Kerry wouldn’t go to college.
But if you also knew me…
You would know I graduated grade school
You would know I graduated high school
You would know I graduated college
You would know I received a masters degree, with a scholarship from the National Speakers Association to become a full-time certified speaker
You would know that I received my Doctorate in Education so I could one day become an adjunct professor at the college level to teach about those with special needs.
You would know I have a job
You would know I’ve consulted on several major motion pictures to bring a realistic portrayal of disability to our entertainment industry
You would know I live independently
You would know I consult to help parents who have children with autism
You would know I am a national speaker, life coach and best-selling author
You would know I love my family, my friends and the autism community out there
You would know that I’m Kerry, and no matter what autism means or doesn’t mean I’m being the best me I can be
Only if you knew me
If you are reading this, please know that autism can’t define our loved ones and only we can define autism. I know so many kids on the spectrum today who are trying to be the very best they can be. We as a community have so many unique and beautiful stories to share so please make sure they are heard.
