Member-only story
32 and Autistic: My Happy Birthday Message to the World
I’m sharing this with you on my 32nd birthday to celebrate embracing who I am — high-masking autistic, highly sensitive, and a human and animal rights advocate.
Most of the ways I’ve felt misunderstood or marginalized come from these traits, and yet my greatest joys and accomplishments are also rooted in them. Sensitivity, in all its forms, is a gift worth loving.
Over the years, I’ve learned what I wish I had known all along: Autism isn’t rare or mystical — it’s incredibly common and something to be proud of! Autists are a gorgeously diverse universe. I’m a level-1 autistic, and I feel that I have communication advantages over many. My privileges have made me hesitant to own the fact that my experience and lifelong struggle fit the picture of autism all too well. However, what I’ve realized is that owning my reality doesn’t diminish others’ struggles. In fact, it motivates me to advocate for inclusion and understanding for everyone, especially those facing bigger barriers than mine.
For this birthday, I’ve written a list of 32 ways to understand my high-masking autistic experience, which is unique to me and does not represent other amazing autists. Autism and ADHD are the categories that I feel confident describe me, but I have found great kinship with my heroes with Borderline Personality…
