The Internet Is Loving This 8-Year-Old’s Illustration Explaining Autism

Cadence is on the autism spectrum, but autism is just one of the ingredients that makes her who she is, the 8-year-old from Queensland, Australia, explained in a drawing posted by her mother on Facebook.

In it, Cadence asks, “Why do people call Autism a label?… I don’t think that’s right. My label is Cadence. One of my ingredients is Autism.”

To further prove her point, Cadence compares her “ingredients” to those in a can of tomatoes.

According to Cadence’s drawing, a can of tomatoes isn’t just tomatoes; it’s tomatoes, basil, oregano and an acid regulator. Like a can of tomatoes isn’t just one ingredient, Cadence isn’t just autism. Cadence describes herself as a number of things “Autism, Organs, Bones, Blood, Clever cells, Caring cells.”

This isn’t the first time Cadence has had something profound to say about life on the autism spectrum. On her website, “I am Cadence,” Cadence’s mother shares drawings and stories written by the 8-year-old Past stories include “Autism Doesn’t mean I’m bad” and “Autism doesn’t make me special. It just makes me different,” in which she explains:

I don’t like it when people say I’m special. Special is an adjective. It means better or greater. I’m not better than other people. I’m not more important than my friends. Autism doesn’t make me special. It just makes me different. I’m good at some things. I’m not good at other things, just like everyone else.

Cadence’s drawing has been shared over 5,000 times since it was posted on Facebook. You can see Cadence’s drawing below.