This is my story of my life with autism

This guest blog post is written by Andrew Collins, a 19-year-old on the autism spectrum. He was an Autism Speaks Boston Walk Speaker in 2017 and 2018. 

People who are adults get mad at each other about people with autism. That’s what I have and I have had it my whole life and Dr. Krish told me and my mom when I was 2.  I am not broken or stupid and I work hard to learn. I talk now some.

And did not talk until I was 5. I don't hurt people now but I do some things which make me look weird to many people. They make it harder for me to do my school work and work site and live my life and that is what makes them hard. I tap on things and make noises usually happy and I don't understand everything about safety. I know lots of people with autism and we are different. We are special and learning in our own ways. 

I probably wont have a real job like 40 hours a week as an adult. I will live with other people and learn to be more independent. I’m 19. My teachers don’t hurt me even if they annoy me sometimes and my brain is different so work is harder. 

I have a big voice thanks to Siri and my iPad because typing is easy for me and still like the picture symbols for schedules. Lots of people have explained the word victim to me. I am not a victim and I wish my brain didn’t hurt sometimes. I am me. Andrew. I was born on a Saturday. I do not love hurting sometimes but adults don’t hurt me. I usually like hugs and pressure and things like swimming. I am learning and I am as good a me as there could be right now. I love my family and friends and teachers for loving me and teaching me. My uncle has a disability and my aunt has one and they arent yelled at by other people who have their special needs and no one yells at my grandma and grandpa. I love my family a lot.  I am not weird or bad and I want to feel better sometimes but no one wants me fixed.