To Robert De Niro, From Someone on the Autism Spectrum

Dear Robert De Niro,

As someone on the autism spectrum myself, I want to thank you. In fact, my appreciation has nothing to do with the film.

I was not diagnosed until I was about 15 years old (I’m 26 years old now). Those first 15 years were a long battle full of misunderstandings and meltdowns. It seemed like everything I did was wrong, and I didn’t know why. When I finally received the diagnosis, people began to understand me more. And although I still have many challenging moments, things have become easier over time.

I cannot understand what it is like to have a child on the spectrum because I do not have a child on the spectrum. Nor can I speak for anyone else other than myself. However, I can say that I wish I had received my diagnosis sooner. I wish people had known. I feel it would have reduced the amount of stress and anxiety I had from the lack of understanding.

Since I was diagnosed, I have become a major advocate. I try to spread awareness as much as I can. I try to focus on the things I’m capable of and spread hope. There are still times when it’s difficult and I get frustrated and just want to say “I can’t do that.” But we all have these bad days – some more than others.

In the end, I just want people to know. I want them not to be mad at me when I need to take a break after only a few hours of work. I want them to realize I’m not overreacting to the firetruck going by, but that the siren really hurts my ears. I’d like them to give me a moment to process what they’ve said in a conversation so I don’t misinterpret it. In the end, I really just want people to be more autism aware.

This is why I want to thank you for being a voice in the autism community. Thank you for spreading awareness, simply by stating that you know someone on the spectrum. Thank you for helping everyone to become more aware.

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