We hear from 13-year-old Pippa Tompsett, diagnosed as autistic when she was three - and perfectly happy about that ever since! While it's hard, sometimes, for others to understand exactly what being autistic means, Pippa is determined to climb the mountain that is social understanding.
Hello, my name is Pippa, I'm thirteen years of age and I'm on the autistic spectrum. I was diagnosed when I was three and have ever since been delighted with that!
If I were to tell you all the things I wish people knew about autism... well let's just say you'd be reading a book not a blog post. The first, and probably most important part, is that you can not see autism. It's in the brain, in severe cases, yes, it is noticeable, but with me and my six other siblings, five on the spectrum, it is a shock to most people when I come out with the sentence "Oh, I'm on the autistic spectrum!", and the usual
response "Really? You don't look autistic?". Why thank you, but please do tell me, what does autism look like?
Secondly, we're not rude, just blunt. I say it how it is. One of my friends is thirty-five and he doesn't think what he's saying, so it comes across as rude but really he just says it how it is. I'm much the same, usually I will think before I speak but if I'm having an "aspie" day (an Autism day) then I will say what I'm feeling. In the past I have upset people, not intentionally, but that is the end result. When someone comments to tell me that it was rude I'll apologise and, being sincerely genuine, explain that it's my autism.
Next, I have to touch the step/door/path before you. If I suddenly decide in my head that what's planned out is I will touch it first then that is what will be. My sister, Nikita (17), and I used to argue about who would touch the given object/place first. Once, I said "I have to touch the floor first Nik." Whilst running down the stairs.
I don't want to hide it because it is a gift not a burden. I'm pleased I have autism, because, well, why wouldn't I?
"No," she replied "I do."
"Same time?" We both asked in harmony. So we put our feet side by side and counted down from three. "Arrrgghh, you touch it first!" I screamed.
"No I didn't." She would defend, because this happened many a time.
Do not change the plans... Please? I plan out every step of my day...literally every step I take. Before I get out of bed I already know what foot will take the first step down the stairs. I know what I'll put on first and what hand I'll use to pick up my toothbrush. To me, this is a given. I can't handle change.
Once, I had doctors appointment and I was already off school that day ill. "I don't know if they'll let you go Pippa", my mum told me.
"Why wouldn't they?" I asked, already starting to panic.
"Because the other children there only have poorly arms or legs," it was an appointment to check my legs (I have cerebral palsy), "so we don't want to make them ill as well." She tried to reason.
"Well, can you ring them?" I was looking for anything to help me now.
"Sorry Pippa, you can't go", my mum explained, walking back into the room.
"What?" I screamed. Tears streamed down my face, I'd had the day all planned out and now my life was turned upside down. I started to claw at the back of my legs with my nails whilst I screamed. For my mum and I, this was the usual response.
But today, even though I’m only thirteen, I have more control over it. I don't want to hide it because it is a gift not a burden. I'm pleased I have autism, because, well, why wouldn't I? Yes there are bad days, no doubt that there are, but for this list I'm writing I don't want to be told I can't or I won't because I can and I will. There's no way you can stop me, I have this gift, this power.
So, I will use it to my advantage. I'll stand up tall with my head held high, and shout from the mountain tops that I have the ability to do something amazing in this world, and that I will do...right after I climb this mountain of a task that is social understanding and coping.
If you know someone with autism or if you have it yourself, tell them or yourself, there's nothing you can't handle. Use this to your advantage. You have great problem solving skills, so help those in need.
Thank you for taking the time out to read this. Help and cherish.
Pippa's mum Vikie Shanks has written a book called Unravelled, about life with her autistic children. Out now £9.99 paperback and £3.99 kindle from Amazon.
