Today is World Autism Day (April 2nd)
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Today is the United Nations recognized World Autism Day https://www.un.org/en/events/autismday/Â A day to highlight the need to help improve the lives of children and adults living with an Autism Spectrum Disorder 🙂
As an Adult who is 24 years old with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, I think that the best thing anyone who is supporting or in regular contact with someone who has an Autism Spectrum Disorder can do, is to just be patient and take time to work through things and figure out what needs to be done to help that person get through their day.
Which brings me to what I really want to say 🙂
I really want to thank everyone who has been patient with me while I am out in the big wide world and I want you all to know that I do know that at times it can be difficult or confusing to deal with me, sometimes even scary… But that I really do appreciate that you try and take the time.
From the super market checkout operator on my Thursday morning, to the friendly lady at the sushi store and my neighbour who fixed my bee sting and of course all my friends who are just so amazing and wonderful… 🙂 … And then of course all my doctors, hospital specialist, counsellors, psychiatrists and especially my dentist, care workers, support workers and service coordinators! Who all go slow and are patient making sure I understand all that is going on.
But most of all, I want to thank the random strangers. The ones who say nice things to me while I am scared out of my mind trying to navigate a brightly lit hospital as I hold someone’s hand and clutch a soft toy as I am lead around, the ones who see me so agitated sometimes that they let me go in front of them while I am waiting in line for something.
For not saying anything mean and nasty to me, when I appear to be acting rude or mean because I forgot some complicated social rule or convention, even though you really want to… For not staring at me when I begin to cry or hyperventilate because a balloon popped unexpectedly on a Christmas display. And most of all… for letting me be in your society and community, even though I don’t always fit. 🙂
So if you are any of these people, Thank you all so very much 🙂 You have made my life so much more wonderifically amazingly spectacular and great!!! And without you all I could not live the meaningful happy life that I am living now.
About The Author
Matty is a 36 year old girl who is an Autistic Poet, Writer and Artist and lives alone in Christchurch New Zealand with a kitty! Matty has given many talks on autism and about being unique in a world that's often not accepting, Matty has also engaged with artist and worked on Art projects Matty usually works on an Art project at the same time as a writing one! This means posts can be a bit delayed!
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6 Responses and Counting...
I think you are amazing I follow your journey closely. Keep working towards your book.
It’s really sweet that you thank all the people who you encounter in your life for being patient. Sometimes people don’t realize how much that means or how much it can do.
Hi Matty 🙂 What beautiful post 🙂 Not only is it thoughtful and lovely to acknowledge all the positive people in your life, but it also gives people like me an insight into how the world appears to someone on the spectrum. Thank you for sharing hun 🙂
What a lovely way to acknowledge the special day and everyone in your life. And as far as all of us are concerned you do “fit’ xx
That was my favourite post I’ve read for World Autism Day Matty. You have such a lovely heart, and it’s beautiful that you are willing and able to share your world with us. 🙂
I’m not exactly sure why, but I found this post so incredibly touching. It made me teary, in a good way. I am sharing this Matty, it’s lovely.