To You, Young Autistic Friend

To You, Young Autistic Friend by Amy Sequenzia

Trigger Warning for the possibility of ableist comments

Autistic advocate and poet Amy Sequenzia's message of acceptance and respect for young autistics for 2012 Autistics Speaking Day. "There is nothing wrong with being who you are. You are perfect in your uniqueness."

Welcome to our community!

I think you might be a little confused.

Maybe you see and hear people saying things about you

As if those things are bad

Maybe people react to your presence in a strange way

First, let me say this: there is nothing wrong with you

Your brain works differently

You react to things differently

You process things differently

Because you are not part of a neurotypical majority

We are part of a neurominority

But there is nothing wrong with you

Sometimes you will feel overwhelmed

Sounds will be too loud, lights too bright

Your brain and your body will deal with this

The best way they can

But the people who still can’t understand

How we feel and process things,

That we need to do things we call stimming

Might say you are “not right”

They will try to “fix” you

But you are not broken

Maybe you will feel sick sometimes

Many of us do

But do not despair

This does not mean you are “wrong”

Some of us prefer to be alone

We might not like to be touched

Some surfaces make us hurt

This is not a reason to be sad

We are just different, we feel things “too much”

You will have amazing abilities

That might be hidden inside

Maybe you can’t speak but can type

I can’t wait to listen to what you have to say

There is nothing wrong with being different

I have to prepare you though

For the hardest part of your journey

You will hear very bad things

Definitions that don’t really say who you are

These hurtful words may even come from your parents

Before they realize how useless such words are

The words may come from the so-called experts

But they don’t know as much as you and me

You are perfect in your uniqueness

So, every time you hear that you are broken or “lost”

Every time you feel rejected and pitied for being autistic

Know that the problem is not because of who you are

It is the world that does not understand our needs and our differences

It will not always be easy

But you can succeed despite the difficulties

We are trying to show the world our worth

We have some allies in the neurotypical majority

Welcome young autistic friend!

We reach out to you

We know with certainty

There is nothing wrong with being who you are.