The Story of Dinah: “Having autism makes me extra special”

Autistic and neurodivergent individuals and their families are rarely heard in the media, at the legislature, and in general public discourse. The mission of Minnesota Women’s Press continues to be to amplify the first-person narratives of people who are not often heard in mainstream media — or are described in dismissive or inaccurate ways, as happened last week from the White House.

---

Sometimes it isn’t easy to have autism. It can be emotional. It can be challenging. For me, it is also a journey of change and growth.

I was diagnosed with non-verbal learning disorder (NVLD) in fourth grade. A lot of people confuse autism and NVLD — which is difficulty with visual and spatial information processing. Both can make school very difficult. In 2020, I became part of the community at Minnesota Independence College and Community (MICC), which is a three-year life-skills and vocational training program for neurodivergent adults based in Richfield.

After being in this diverse community of neurodivergent people — many with autism and other neuro-differences — I retested as an adult. I was diagnosed with autism in 2022.

Honestly, I was not surprised. It made sense to me as the correct diagnosis, based on some of my behaviors. For example, when I get mad, I rip up paper or whatever I come in contact with and shred, shred, shred, shred, shred. It is a self-soothing tactic, I now know, to help me cope with that anger. I also fixate on objects and can be prone to distraction.

I know ways that my autism is a strength. I’m artistic and creative; I love to do henna, make friendship bracelets, dance, sing, write, draw, color, and paint. I’ve also discovered that I’m hilarious and know how to be a good friend by being sweet, outgoing, bubbly, and making people laugh.

My autism diagnosis has helped me better understand myself, my disability, and what I need to be happy and productive.

Coming to MICC was the best thing to ever happen to me. I always struggled in school and I wasn’t very excited about doing more of it after I graduated from high school. Having only been exposed to people like me at Groves Learning Organization in St. Louis Park, I had no idea how many people with learning disabilities existed, and I certainly didn’t know there was an entire college for us.

Now I have more confidence, and the tools to advocate for myself. I live with roommates in my own apartment. I have a job, shop and cook for myself, pay bills, and make my own decisions. My relationship with my parents has grown and changed because I’m not afraid to express what I want and what I need from them, and they’re not afraid to express what they need from me.

I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I do want to educate more people about learning disabilities. I don’t think many people understand what having a disability is actually like.

Sometimes at work, I’m treated like a little kid. That can be hard, but I make sure I’m clear that I might need help sometimes, yet also can do a good job and achieve anything I put my mind to.

In the end, it is most important that I know I can do anything.

Today I am a participant ambassador at MICC. I love talking about our community at the school. My best friends are here. We fully accept and are accepted.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself about my future life, I would tell “her” it’s okay to have a disability and it is nothing to be ashamed of. It makes me who I am. It makes me extra special.

Story about autism from The Guardian