What is awetism

The diagnosis was a blessing in disguise, although it did evoke strong feelings and I had imposter syndrome. I felt like a fake using my ‘new‘ identity. 

The diagnosis was very formative in my life and in my own self identity, which is how I view myself, I gained a new founded appreciation for who I was and how I had made it this far, almost all through my own sheer hard work. 

I was able to understand who I was, there were reasons for why  I struggled with certain aspects of adult life and so I was able to find a support system and a forgiveness of myself. I curated a toolbox that is serving me well in my adult life - so far. I am no longer having to struggle with myself and dismiss voices that, were, all along, valid and instinctive,  I was also able to celebrate the things about me that I thought were just normal; my attention to detail, dedication and determination, abilities such as the voice acting and presentation skills. 

I knew that masking didn’t belong in my new life. I had no more mental capacity or resource with all of life’s responsibilities. I became comfortable in my own skin.   I am very eager to raise awareness about being Awetistic and represent to the world a success story and one of hope. I hope others will be able to read about my experiences and draw from my words inspiration, strength and a sense of solidarity. Self acceptance is a game changer in the identity of an Awetistic individual.  

Are you Awetistic? Stop and think for a moment? What do you like about yourself?

There are many stories of famous people who have received late diagnoses, sometimes even into their later adult years. Some people never gain a diagnosis and can live misunderstood and very lonely indeed. 

A late diagnosis, can present challenges for individuals and their families. Sometimes, the social impact can result in the individual being alienated from their immediate society and family and viewed as though they are coming up with an excuse for their perceived eccentric , unusual or unacceptable behaviour.

Since autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, with most adults struggling with social communication and interaction, this alienation results in further feelings of inadequacy and a need to explain.. Less is more and they only person who should be aware of the diagnosis in the midst of such rejection is yourself. 

However, the lack of early intervention and support does not mean that late diagnoses are necessarily damaging to a person’s life. It is never too late to implement systems and support around you to help you. There are always opportunities to learn more about your diagnosis and hence yourself and Awetistic individuals are already out of the box thinkers most of the time, come up with solutions that work. 

When it comes to work, a large number of the Awetistic community are not employed. This could be due to having to exist in systems and Ways of working that do not support them and take into account their needs. It could also be due to co–morbidities that this disorder sadly is accompanied with. 

Though I am lucky to work in a field that is fast moving and engaging for me In the world of IT, I attribute all of my success to a few questions that I have asked myself and which are as follows: 

1- What do I do outside of my work that motivates me to keep going In my job when it gets tough? 

2- What do I like about my line of work? What do I want to challenge myself with? 

3- What activities do I dislike in my line of work and how do I find a way to make them more interesting=? 

4- How do I spend my time when I am out of work? 

5- Is my work varied and interesting enough for me to keep working? 

6- Am I compensated for my work enough? Are there other rewards that are non financial? (could be that my work is exciting, I am challenged enough, I am progressing, I am benefiting others with my work)

Though there are many challenges to being awetistic,and awareness in the workplace is growing around reasonable adjustments and motivating Awetistic people to participate in the workplace to enrich it with the skills they bring, there is still more work, in my opinion, that needs to be done in this regard. 

To conclude; it is essential to foster understanding, remove stigmas, provide the necessary structure and systems that takes into account Awetistic people’s needs so that they can recognise their own potential and in turn, offer their best to the work force. 

By recognizing and embracing the strengths of individuals with autism, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.