This guest post is by Alfred Bowman, a young man who attends College of Dupage. He is an advocate for the Spring 2025 Making a Difference Autism Scholarship via the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference started by me, Kerry Magro. I was nonverbal 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.
I remember when I was younger I was always by myself. I never really made any friends at all. I knew people but I never really made any lifelong friends. On top of that I always remember being overwhelmed as a kid. Like things that aren’t scary could overwhelm me. I wonder why I was like this as a kid. Well around Middle School I remember my mom mentioned the fact that I was on the spectrum of Autism that I was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder when I was 4. And as someone who has seen kids in my school show obvious signs of Autism because there were classes in my school who help kids who have obvious signs of autism. It surprised me but at the same time made sense in Hindsight. It explained why I wasn’t with the rest of the 1st Graders but instead a select few. It made sense why I had a speech teacher. It made sense why I was so overwhelmed. It made sense why I felt alone. And that’s something that was a constant thing in my life being in the autism spectrum. Lonely.
It was a lonely experience. I processed emotions in a different way to other people. I think differently to other people. I miss so many social cues like it wasn’t even funny. It takes me a minute to understand something. Especially when it comes to math. Like I liked Math as a kid but when Math/Algebra got more and more complicated it overwhelmed me. Still does. The overwhelming feeling is why I don’t like Math and why I find it confusing. And it made me insecure about myself because it made me feel dumb compared to other people. Other stuff that made me feel different to other people is the way I interact with people. Like I talk a lot so it might annoy someone or just have them awkwardly listen to me. My mom always mentioned letting someone I am talking to give their opinion or feelings out and give them a chance to speak. I listen to my mom. I feel like without her I don’t think I would make it far without her. And I am thankful for that.
Now while yes it was a lonely experience being on the spectrum of Autism. I have to say. I am not ashamed of being autistic. Again it gets lonely. But it also makes me creative with my mind. Like for example I love making stories in my head or on scripts I like to make since I was a kid. Being on the spectrum I feel that I am more creative because of that. Like their ideas like Freedom Fighters, a bunch of kids who want to fight this Warlord who has taken over the world and has an army of robots. Or Kenshi The Golden Samurai. A teenager who is the son of two well known heroes now a vigilante who fights corrupt heroes or villains. Or when I was teenager Codename:MIDNIGHT, a cyberpunk political thriller following Claire Drake, a soldier who must deal with terrorists and corruption in the world and must find their forgotten memories. That’s something I realized during the pandemic. I am creative. And because of that creativity I want to make films and shows so I could tell these stories.
Overall. Being on the spectrum of Autism is an interesting experience. Sometimes it can be very lonely. But sometimes it can be very fulfilling. It’s sad to see how people see autism as a curse or a disease instead of something a child is born with. Especially when it comes to parents feeling ashamed of their kid’s autism because that sadly is true. People are ashamed or look down upon people who have autism. At times I realize how people don’t realize I have autism until I tell them. Like I can pass off as someone who is ‘normal’. And it makes me realize how much life can have been different if I was deeper into the spectrum of Autism and why I empathize with people who are deeper into the spectrum.I am happy at the very least I have supportive parents. I am so happy that my parents aren’t ashamed I have autism. Or being on the spectrum of autism. They have been supportive of me and my dreams. I sometimes forget how lucky and grateful I can be at times. But writing this essay has really made me realize how much autism impacted my life but also how supportive my parents are. Thank you Mom and Dad. Thank you.
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.
Also, consider having 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!
