When I was diagnosed with Asbergers 12 years ago, I didn't think anything of it. My mom still loved me and treated me the same way. The people at my school didn't make fun of me. I remained mainstreamed, graduated from high school in the top 1/3 of my class and started college. I have a job and I am engaged to be married. I am high functioning. In college I was made fun of for the first time. I had a melt down. They happen. When my daily system gets messed with my whole day gets out of whack. I was called "retarded". I didn't understand. My mom couldn't explain it to me. So I looked into it. The person had no problem with me until my unusualness showed. Then I became their target. I spent 8 years believing that my autism wasn't noticeable. I realized then that in was wrong. I do things that show my colors. I don't get sarcasm or jokes. I overthink everything. I cannot be touched. But I have sense realized that the diagnosis of the spectrum is not a one size fits all. My autism is different from the young man down the street from me. I don't feel stupid or different, I feel beautifully unique and blessed. Some people have it a million times worse than myself, and others better. I love myself.

Michellee Jewell
Ashtabula, OH