A Day In The Life of Someone With Autism #5

For this week’s post, I will walk you through what day-to-day life could look like for someone living with ASD I am no expert; this is just my interpretation. I will be using first-person narration to allow you, readers, to step into the perspective of what life could look like for someone who has ASD.

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Living with ASD means that every day can bring new challenges and moments of comfort, depending on how the world around me feels. My days might look a little different from someone else’s, but they are filled with routines, thoughts, and small details that help me feel grounded.

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When I wake up in the morning, I like things to happen in the same order: first, I get dressed, then I brush my teeth, and then I have breakfast every morning. Routines make me feel calm because I know what to expect and I know what is coming next. If something suddenly changes in my routine, like if we run out of my usual cereal or the bus is late, it can throw off my whole morning. It’s not that I don’t want to be flexible; it just takes me more time to adjust when things change.

The world can sometimes feel really loud. The sound of people talking all at once, bright lights, or even strong smells can be overwhelming. When that happens, I might need a few minutes alone or use my headphones to help me get back to focus again. Those quiet moments help me feel safe.

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At school or work, I focus really deeply on things I care about. When I’m interested in something like drawing, coding, or learning about animals, I can stay with it for hours. People sometimes call that a “special interest,” but for me, it’s more like a passion. Its what brings me joy and helps me express who I am.

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Social situations can be confusing to me. I might not always know when it is my turn to speak, or I might take things literally when someone is joking or being sarcastic. I can also be pretty awkward when I don’t really know what to say. It’s not that I don’t care about people, I really do. But sometimes I just need others to be patient with me while I figure out what to say or how to respond.

Photo by Joe on Unsplash

While the course of a day is never certain, I have learned what helps me most. It is having a routine, having people around me who understand and taking time for myself to recharge my social battery when needed. ASD does not make my life less; it just makes it a little bit different, is all. I notice things other people might miss, I think in patterns, and I care deeply about the things that matter to me. ASD is not something I need to “fix.” It is a part of who I am, and it shapes the way I see the world. I see a world that is full of sound, colour, pattern, and possibility.

“Autism is not a disease. It’s a different way of being human.” – John Elder Robison