Hi Everyone,
I, Michael Lettman, am going to explain about what it's like to be an adult with Autism versus being a child with Autism.
Just like any other person, I am very different than I was when I was younger. I do not need the same supports and guidance now than when I was young. When I was young I needed someone to repeatedly try to guide and teach me to make me understand an idea or behavior. People had to be patient with me and show me the way to do something over and over. It took me longer to learn and completely understand something.
Young children with Autism can be a lot of work for parents, caretakers, or guardians. It is important to be taught how to bond with the ones who take very good care of you, even if means having to be taught over and over again. People who worked with me had to have a whole lot of patience to make certain that I understood what they were telling me. The patience also helps with the ways of what I call our "Autism World" without any problems. I think that some Autistic children can behave is a way that other people call "trouble making" or had small problems to deal with in life. When they become big Autistic adults they learn how to control their impulses.
Over time they will find new problems in life to deal with, so to all you caregivers out there, if you have to repeatedly guide young Autistic children in unique ways so they understand then "PLEASE" hang in there and don't mind the difficulties and try to be patient, reduce your annoyance with them. Try to take your time and I'm sure that they'll be okay with what they learned from you. This will definitely help them out as they shall eventually become big independent Autistic adults.
I think being an adult with Autism means that you can take what you learn from your past as an young Autistic child and use it when you are an adult. Although as an Autistic adult mistakes can still be made, but that's part of life and you can still learn from them for good reasons. There may have been times when young Autistic children had hard times getting along with some people they know but they can change that by learning from those who are just trying to help them with being happy as big autistic adults.
If you could give advice to a young Autistic child now - what would it be?
I hope that you notice the ones who are taking care of you are doing it with love and care. I hope that you see that they are showing you some ways to be okay in your life no matter how hard it can be, ways that are comfortable for you on the inside and that you are able to understand without problems. Appreciate the people that are there for you because it isn't easy.
What's one of the biggest lessons you learned in becoming a responsible adult?
I learned about how too-much of a troublemaker that I was back when I was little. After learning what I've done back then even remembering some of it, I've learn from my mistakes for the better plus remembering parts of me being very mean. I need to make sure to be kind which is better for me and everyone else as well.
This was my video for this topic, Please Enjoy!