5th November 2018
An Autistic person is Autistic for life despite a popular myth that implies that Autistic folk grow out of it. We don’t, how can you grow out of yourself? People change yes, but Autism is at the very heart of our core. That means that there are generations of Autistic people within the world. In my opinion the influence of Autistic people also changes with age.
This is clearly seen in the difference between Autistic children and adults when it comes to available medical services. Despite often long waiting periods for support, there seems to be more services out there for children and younger generations when compared to adults. I have also read many stories online about Autistic children having the benefit of help, removed as soon as they turn eighteen, reaching adulthood. Although I am glad that Autistic children have support, after all it is often a very difficult time, I am also sad that the support reduces as we get older. Transitioning is another period that can be problematic too.
There is some good transitioning help from organisations such as the National Autistic Society. However, it seems to me that a lot of Autistic people between the ages of eighteen and thirty create their own influences through online and social media. For example, most of the videos I follow online are created by people within this age group. They are helping themselves and others through the telling of their stories, thoughts and opinions. Some of them even make a career out of this along with public speaking about life on the spectrum. When you consider that employment within the Autistic community sits at just 16%, I admire them, that they have created their own businesses. They network, work together and communicate collectively. They achieve this by using their talents utilising the technology of their generation.
The next generation is the one I belong to, aged somewhere between 30 and 50. This generation has a percentage of people who were diagnosed as adults and so have spent a period of their lives being Autistic without having the understanding that they are on the spectrum. I think because of this their approach is different. They still produce amazing content online, through blogging etc. but I think the style is slightly different as you would expect in any generation, Autistic or not. Everybody changes as they get older and Autistic people are no exception. You become more life wary and things that never bothered you during your younger years now do, and vice versa.
As always I can only really speak for myself, but as I have aged I feel that there is less pressure for me to fit in and more opportunity to be myself. Peer pressure has definitely decreased. I find that I have a lot less energy then when I was younger and my anxiety levels have increased. Since I was diagnosed as an adult, there is some regret there too, and a lot of reflection. Would my life have been easer if I had been diagnosed as a child?
Nobody knows, but that does not mean that I don’t spend a lot of time recalling bad memories and wondering if they could have been avoided with the knowledge that I was on the spectrum. However, the main factor is that I am so much more happy now than I was when I was younger. With my diagnosis has come happiness, peace of mind and most importantly a final understanding of myself. From what I have read online in social media, there are some people of my generation who were diagnosed late that also have these feelings.
The final generation is aged fifty plus. I must admit I know very little about this age group and to be honest that bothers me somewhat. There are a few older Autistics in my social media circle (although I have to point out I am rubbish at reading peoples ages, so there might be more than I realise!). I know one Autistic in real life who I believe is in her sixties, but she is only an acquaintance I don’t know her well. She seems to have all the same Autistic strengths and weakness that run as a common factor through all Autistic lives. I know she has concerns about her children as she grows older, as again, most parents must. There must be many older Autistics out there though that due to their age must be having issues that I am not aware off and this is scary, as one day I will be in this generation.
I think perhaps more awareness needs to generated in this area. Currently though this generation is perhaps the least IT savvy and so maybe future generations of older Autistic people, who have grown up with the internet and social media, will have more avenues open to them.
To conclude with, Autistic people are on the same ageing journey through life as everyone else. Being Autistic, however, will make this journey through life different. It is important that we remember the different generations, include them in all aspects of the Autistic community and remember that we will all be part of these different ages within our lifetimes. When you see an Autistic child, remember one day they will be an Autistic adult and one day after that an older Autistic adult. As will I and you. Life will bring challenges, opportunities, problems and experiences. Learn from the past, enjoy the present and have hope for the future…