My name is London. People say I am different because I have autism. That is true! My autism makes me stand out from other kids. Mostly in good ways. I’m happy and always full of energy. Then sometimes my autism affects me in ways that are not so good. I struggle to pay attention in class. I have trouble sitting still. All of these things make me different but what makes me unique is that I don’t always notice people’s differences. 

Autism make me different in many ways. There are the small ways like my sensory issues. I never get dizzy like most kids do. I can spin around in a swing for hours and not even feel it. That difference is almost like a superpower! Especially at Disneyland where I never get dizzy on rides. I also have an amazing memory. I can remember spelling words and math facts easily. I hardly have to study them. Then there are bigger differences. Other kids have lots of free time to play. I have playtime to just not as much. I have 40 hours a week of therapy. Speech therapy, social groups and occupational therapy take up a lot of time. I would rather be playing but I need the therapy to be the best I can be. In school, it is hard for me to concentrate. I try hard to pay attention but I can only stay on task for so long. Sometimes my teacher will ask me a question and I don’t know the answer because my mind was on something else. I think that happens to every kid at times but it happens to me every day!

There are other big differences that come with my autism. It is hard for me to have conversations with other kids. I want to talk to them very much. It is just very difficult for me to express myself and figure out what I am trying to tell them or how to speak to them the way they do to each other. Every day in class or at lunch, I try to think of ways to keep a conversation going with my friends. They make it look so easy. They know what to say. For me it is not easy at all! Writing this paper and trying to put down what I want to say is not easy either!

For me though, the biggest difference is that I don’t see differences in people like others seem to do. Everyone notices my differences but I don’t see theirs. I just like all kids and want to play and be friends. I care about all the kids and want them to be happy. Be kind to others is what I believe. I think we can all learn from each other if we do that. I have good friends at school who know me and accept me. We have fun together and I am glad they are there for me.

Autism does make me different but it also makes me London!