Up until I discovered my own Autism at age 33, I lived my whole life feeling fundamentally broken. Anxiety. Depression. Self-loathing. I struggled at home and in school, I struggled to make friends, and I struggled to cope with and understand the world around me. The discovery was truly a pivotal life moment. And the redemption is that I get to use all those experiences and hurts to advocate for a better world for all Autistic people.
That discovery brought a multitude of answers to a lifetime of struggles and to call it profoundly transformational would be a great understatement. Simply put, I had lived my life believing that I was just like everyone else – despite never fitting in, or having a single friend until high school, and being constantly bombarded by sensory overload – so everyone else must be dealing with what I dealt with, and therefore I was a failure because I had difficulty coping. Identifying my Autism transformed my perception from one of worthlessness and failure to one of remarkable success with what I have achieved given the challenges I have faced.
Today, I have been a successful software engineer for sixteen years – four-time Microsoft MVP Award recipient, former Microsoft employee, and well-regarded speaker at over 130 events across North America. But despite my accomplished career, I had faced many struggles in the traditional workplace.
As I set about to learn as much as I could about Asperger's and Autism, I have found that I am not alone. There are many Autistic people like me who face significant daily struggles, some even greater. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 68 people today are Autistic. Of those, only an estimated 56% will graduate high school, and 80-85% will be unemployed or underemployed. And yet, Autistic people tend to have incredible cognitive abilities, such as high intelligence, attention to detail, intense focus, creative out-of-the-box problem solving skills, honesty, and loyalty. These are people we should be hiring.
I have dedicated my life to creating understanding, acceptance, opportunity, and inclusion for Autistic people. I regularly engage with diverse audiences in the Autism community including individuals and families, educators, and business leaders. The clear and compelling theme through all of their stories is the need for better information, more supportive educational environments, viable career options, and available supporting services for everyone.
Together, we can make that happen. Will you join me?
