Autism affects every 1 in 88 people in the United States, there are approximately 43,000 people diagnosed with Autism in Oregon. At LBCC alone there are 46 people that are diagnosed with some form of Autism. It should be noted that some students do not self-disclose their disability, the number reflects the amount of students that have provided documentation to the Office of Disability Services on campus. Because of the Autism Spectrum, the impact the diagnosis has on individuals is very different. There is a wide range of accommodations for people with Autism or any disability that are provided by ODS including, but not limited to, preferential seating, reduced distraction space, and extended time on tests.
A doctor at OHSU in Eugene diagnosed me. My father was in the room when being told. Because I was over 13 (I was 14) the doctor allowed me to be in the room but only with parental consent. The doctor asked my father if it was OK for me to be in the room while delivering the results, he said it was OK. To be honest, I think it was a good idea for me to be in the room. When it was revealed that I have Autism, I didn't want to believe it. After the diagnoses I felt I wasn’t normal, that I wasn’t the same as everyone else. I was often, when in Alsea, bullied in school and made fun of and I felt that because of being diagnosed with Autism I would be even more. It was also saddening because I felt that I’d never have a girlfriend because nobody would want to go out with someone who has a disability.
Due to constant bullying in Alsea along with an incident that occurred, that will not be discussed, my parents moved me and my siblings over the hill to Philomath when I was in 8th grade. Although I actually grew up in Alsea I often tell people that I grew up in Philomath because I dislike the memories that are brought back when Alsea is talked about. I do believe that I matured much more in Philomath than I did in Alsea. As I said I began school in Philomath in eighth grade, life became much better in Philomath because I had peers who helped me overcome many symptoms though eighth grade and all through high school. Things like understanding social boundaries, what's appropriate and inappropriate in different situations, things that people without Autism already understand. There’s still some things that I am overcoming, but over the last nearly ten years I have overcome a lot.
You may be wondering how most people that I went to high school with in Philomath knew about my disability. Well, I had two friends, who were twins, that I hung out with a lot in 8th grade and into high school, we were in the same grade. I told them about my disability, they then told others and word spread. At first I did not like the fact that they told others about my disability but looking back now, I’m quite thankful that they did. Had they not I am certain that I would not have overcome all that I have.
I know it’s not good to speculate but I think what initiated me overcoming what I did was something that took place right at the beginning of my sophomore year. During my freshman year I had had lunch with Kara and Teri Bartlow (the twins mentioned above) practically every single day, which was overwhelming to them. I did not really understand that having lunch with someone everyday was too much until the assistant principal, which was their dad, told me in a conversation that was had near the end of the school year. At the beginning of my sophomore year I saw Kara and Teri in the hall and they said to me “Hey Jarred, I think starting this year we should maybe just have lunch two or three times a week instead of everyday.” I then responded by saying “Ok well I was actually thinking two times a week too, because everyday is overwhelming.” There was then a brief pause followed by this response “Oh...ok.” I think the fact that I noticed I over-stepped a boundary and later on learned from it told them that I was willing to change and improve on my social skills that lacked due to my disability. I really truly did want to change and be more normal, and from that point on I started overcoming things with the help of Kara and Teri and a few hundred others. By the end of my sophomore year many of the students at PHS knew about my Autism, mainly in my grade and the grades above and below me.
I used to be worried about revealing my diagnosis to people after entering college because I was scared that I’d be judged and people would avoid me and not want to hang out with me. However, in January 2013 former Miss Montana and Miss America contestant Alexis Wineman revealed on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that she had been diagnosed with a high functioning level of PDD-NOS which is another form of Autism. When she told her story I was shocked by how many similarities there were between us. Her story inspired me to be more open about my disability. However, I do worry at times that some people might judge me and treat me badly if I reveal to them that I am different.
I like to think of July 19 as my second birthday. In 2012 Robin Roberts, Anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America, was diagnosed with a bone marrow disease known as MDS following previous medical issues that she had in the past. Her bone marrow transplant occurred on September 20 of that year and she considers that date to be her second birthday. After she talked about that date being her second birthday during a show that made me wonder if that would work for a disability. Yes Autism is a disability, not a disease but it is still something different that I have had to live with since the date that I was diagnosed. Although on June 7 I’ll turn 24, I’ll have lived with Autism for 10 years on July 19, 2014; my 10th birthday.
At a glance:
Who: Benton County Health Department
What: Benton County Developmental Disabilities Program
Where:
530 NW 27th Street
PO Box 579
Corvallis, Oregon 97339
When: Regular Business Hours
Why: To get help for people who believe they or someone they know has autism or a different disability.
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