Hi there! I'm Matt Jones, a student from England, who has autism.
I was diagnosed from the age of two back in 1997. I initially found it very difficult to speak to anybody, even my own parents. I developed later than most children within my age bracket, and I suffered from extreme emotional problems, becoming very fragile in dealing with my emotions and social problems, especially since my grandfathers died when I was very little, and I remember witnessing one of them having a heart attack and being placed in an ambulance.
Up until a few months back, I never believed I could make it. I suffer from bouts of depression alongside my autism, and they still affect me to this day. I used to believe my autism was a hinderance to myself and others around me, including friends and family. It's not a hinderance.
You may not feel it, but you are important to somebody. You've made somebody's life much funner, much happier, and/or much more exciting. It took me a long time to realise this. Don't worry about naysayers, your autism is not your whole identity, it's just a small part of what makes you a great human being. If you're kind, compassionate, and caring, you're beyond anyone who considers themselves "normal" and bullies others for differences they don't understand. With the support of my family, and great friends (one in particular I hold very dear to my heart), I've managed to crawl from my dark pit of despair and have seen the light. To every parent out there with an autistic child you've raised with love and care, you're a superhero, and your child can achieve great things. I managed to achieve one of the highest English grades possible, and I'm really looking forward to continuing to write, a huge passion of mine. Don't give up, and remember, you'll be supported.
Shropshire, United Kingdom