Matthew is a 17-year-old who was diagnosed with autism at age 8. He discusses some of the challenges of having autism, including sensory processing issues and difficulties with social interactions. However, he also emphasizes that autism does not define him and highlights some areas where his autism has helped him develop skills and passions, such as playing music and studying IT. He hopes to convey that while autism can be difficult, it is important for families to support autistic individuals and help them find ways to cope with challenges.

1. World Autism Day 2015
Age 10
Age 17

2. I am Matthew when I was 8
I was diagnosed with Autism.
As you can see from the
photo I didn’t really like it
when people, even my
family, put their arms around
me. This is because I have a
sensory processing disorder.

3. People say that if you have Autism you can’t
be affectionate – wrong !
Having a little sister has made me realise just how much love I do have……..except when she
is screaming !

4. Sometimes my obsessions can become the reason
that I am gifted in a certain area.
Things that we want you to know…..
If you have met one person with Autism… you have
met one person with Autism. We are unique we are
all different with the same challenges.
Many of us like our own company, what you need to
know is that when we sit in our rooms this is our
processing times, I explained to my Mum that I need
that time to chill out and process the
day/weeks/months events and when something has
come along to cause greater anxiety I need more
time to do that, it is hard for me to vocalise how I am
feeling, I am lucky that my Mum knows when these
times are.
We can be sensitive to sound, it can overload our
system….but we can be loudest person in the room,
that because we are in control of that
noise……apologies for that !
Remember you can learn just as much from me as I
can from you…..but show me first and I will pick it up
quicker!
Please encourage your young person to
access support, my Mum has started a
voluntary organisation. Parents should ask
for help too. My Mum and Dad had no one
to go to in the beginning, that’s why they
started SENSA, check out the webpage – I
built it !! www.sensa.org.uk

5. My phobia of Music would cause the
worst kind of meltdown when I was
young but now I play piano and bass,
Music is my passion and hey look ……I
made it into year 11. Never thought
that would happen when I was in year
7!
I am in year 12 now and
studying a diploma in IT. Being
at college is hard some days,
getting to know new tutors and
new pupils can cause stress but
I am working hard at taking
each day as it comes.

6. Autism doesn’t define who I am, it is just a part of my make up. I am still Matt, I
have good days and bad days. Some days I can cope and some days I can’t, on
the days I can’t I will just try to do what I haven’t managed today tomorrow.
Don’t feel sad for me – yeah I have got some horrible other diagnosis but Mum
and Dad are there for me and will get me through.
When I was 3 I could Identify the parts of a computer and with help assemble
them on a motherboard at age 16 I could code and at 17 I am at college doing
an extended diploma in IT.
Until I was 11 I couldn’t cope with music of any kind, today I write music and
produce it.
I never really had any friends until I was 15, today Mum tells me that I can cope
socially better that some of my peers.
What I am trying to say is that ‘OK it would be great if I didn’t have these
differences, but we are all different in some way’. I can’t imagine how difficult it
is for families that have an Autistic child that cannot talk but I know that they
have a gift it is just going to take a bit longer to find it.
Tell your children they have Autism, make the most of the good bits and help us
through the bad bits, be aware of what makes us unhappy and please try to
understand that this is as difficult for us as it is for you.

7. Me playing at Haverings Last Band Standing – we came
second….watch out for our gigs! The Walking Method.
Prom !!! I went to Prom, it was amazing, wouldn’t have
missed it for anything!

8. Some of these photos show things that I
find easy and others that are difficult.
Since some of them have been taken I
have managed some firsts but
unfortunately have struggled in some of
the areas that I was able to cope with say,
a year ago.
This is the nature of Autism and my
complex co- existing conditions can
impact on my coping strategies.
As I am getting
older I can
express how I feel
a bit better, but
not always. My
Mum and Dad
describe me as a
fusebox, no, its ok
I don’t mind it’s a
good description.
If all my switches
are up, it’s a good
day!