07/21/2026
“I am an adoptee who is a foster care alumni. I was raised in Dallas, TX, but moved to Philadelphia, PA, in 2020 to fulfill a long-term dream of living on the East Coast. Growing up, I was intermittently diagnosed throughout my childhood, but did not gain a formal diagnosis of Autism until early adulthood. Before that, I struggled immensely with unchecked comorbidity of mental health disorders (autism & unspecified bipolar) and physical health (rheumatoid arthritis). After the pandemic, I found a job at an Ability One organization that helped me obtain resources to get the support and services I needed that had been missing throughout most of my life. Once I had help and resources, I formed answers to why I struggled to navigate a neurotypical world.
Most importantly, I can begin to research and understand my autism and how it shapes who I am. The fog has lifted, and I have gained greater stability. I am now able to pursue another long-term dream of earning a master’s in social work. As I continue to learn and embrace who I am without feeling ashamed of comparing myself to neurotypical individuals, I have discovered that having autism makes me unique and a diamond in society.”
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