others who may be different . My faith is forged in my partnership with my family . I am strong because of their support .
Second , I am strong because I practice and prepare .
As a result of being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as an adult , I learned to understand the world around me much better . I now understand that I live in a world that my brain isn ’ t built for . I now understand how my sensory processing influences my anxiety . I understand that the lighting will often be so bright or so dim that it distorts my depth perception and facial recognition . I understand that my brain identifies and processes multiple sounds simultaneously , often leaving me with an overwhelming sense of confusion . I understand that my social anxiety can at times cause me to go an entire day without verbally communicating to anyone .
My life is unfiltered . My life is lived in high definition . I see , hear , feel , and many times smell the world in ways that most people don ’ t , and as a result it requires me to pour an incredible amount of energy into surviving each day . I often look tired because I am exhausted . Life often challenges me in ways that the average person could never imagine .
You won ’ t always see me at the football game or the concert that everyone is going to . You often won ’ t see me hanging out at the mall or at an amusement park . You won ’ t always see me at the Memorial Day , Labor Day , or Independence Day cookouts and fireworks shows , but when I am able to attend , it is because I am prepared .
Preparation means practice , so I practice by first doing my best to put things into perspective . I have real challenges , and on occasion my challenges pose problems , but I practice pushing my perspective in a positive direction . I am autistic , and I am strong .
12
ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses