I first learned about my autism at Williamsville South High School. My mother decided now was a good time for me to learn about what I had. Ironically, it was easier for me to make friends in Elementary and Middle School than it was in High School. Before Kindergarten, no one understood me at all. Mrs. Jackson was the first teacher to accept me as an autistic student. My family was very supportive of my autism. In fact, my brothers thought I was normal in my own way. The only reason for why it was hard for me to make friends in High School is because I was focusing more on my classes, my personal life and my plans for the future.

            My life has been difficult at times, but mostly it’s been good. I have come a long way since I was first diagnosed with autism, and now I am on the path to success. It was my desire to succeed and the people around me that allowed me to conquer my autism. Most importantly, it was those who did not understand my autism (my father and some of my teachers) that allowed me to become strong. Now that I have grown up, I would like to show others that autism is indeed a gift. My personal motivation is to launch my career, to let people know who I am as an animator. My bigger motivations is to help others tell their stories; to tell people that autism is not a disease. Autism is a gift to help us grow as friends and families.

            I would like to use this animation project to allow other people with autism to share their stories. Everyone who has autism has a story to tell. Unfortunately, they are too shy to know how to talk about those stories. What they don’t realize is that their stories could easily change the world for the better. Therefore, I would like to use these interviews to give these people a chance to speak their minds, and their hearts. A chance to tell the world how they really feel to have autism. To do this, I have a questionnaire prepared. This questionnaire is going to be related to different aspects of the life of a person with autism. It will contain questions of their experience, what they like, what their life is like today, and what they think they can become in the future. In summary, the questionnaire will try to obtain real and authentic emotions and experiences from those of us who live with this condition.

            I would also like to tell those who don’t understand autism just what it is. That way, they won’t talk down to those with this condition so cruelly. I felt the sting when those teachers continually doubted my chances at success. These interviews could prove those doubters wrong, and tell them autism is no laughing matter. I would like to help them understand that people with autism are just as normal as everyone else, and that they can be the best friends anyone would ever have.

            Now today it feels as though I have conquered my autism. In fact, I feel a need to thank my autism for putting me on the right path. It was my autism that caused me to enjoy animation. Therefore, it was thanks to my autism that I now have a gifted career as an animator. And now I wish to share this gift with the rest of the world, in the form of animated movies and television. I have a special animation style that can appeal to children and adults alike. It can allow people to enjoy and learn from the characters at the same time. It is my desire for them to start sharing with each other the message of this project. “Autism is a gift, not a disease.”