Living with autism is a daily challenge that I’ve dealt with all my life. From a young age, most classmates didn’t understand what was ‘wrong’ with me.
I kept myself to myself, often looking as though I fitted in just fine, but deep down feeling very lost.
Teachers didn’t understand me and I moved schools only to be told that I wouldn’t gain any qualifications or GCSES.
Even as an adult, my emotions can go from one extreme to the other in a split second. But as a child this was even more traumatic. My first few years at primary school were tough but then I moved to a special needs school that dealt with autism and other disabilities. This was life changing and where my feathers really came out. I gained four GCSEs and few other qualifications when I studied at travel and tourism at college.
As well as education being tough with autism, finding and holding down a job is very difficult. When you explain to your future employer that you have learning difficulties and autism most employers ether turn you down or don’t bother getting back in touch.
But when my ex-boss told me that, “Having someone with autism in the workplace is great because they’ll do the job perfectly,” my confidence sky-rocketed.
I wasn’t sure if people had good reasons to turn me down. But now I know they really don’t. After holding two temporary jobs and being four months in my new job as a serving assistant I can say that an autistic lad can do anything he puts his mind to.
One of the things I love to do is travel. Not only do I love the excitement of it all but it’s also a tool I use to help cope with my autism. When things get tough and I need extra space I book myself a mini vacation ether in the UK or Europe so I can escape for a while. Then I can come back and start afresh.
Day to life with autism can be difficult, but I’ve learned to focus on what I love.
My passion for travel and photography brings me peace and happiness. If you carry on doing what you love, the world can be a very happy place!
