Printed with permission from the author, Amy Sequenzia
Beyond Stereotypes
I am not autism, I am an autistic person
My life is not a tragedy, it is a growing process
Like yours
I have good days and bad days
Like you
My parents fought for me, not against me
They fought for my rights
The nights I spent awake made me think about my life
My family and friends also thought about it
They saw me beyond a diagnosis and saw my potential
They accepted me and worked hard to provide me with life experience
When is the rest of the world going to follow their example?
There were times of hardship but I am part of the human race
I am not immune to hardships
My neighbors learned how to see me as a whole person
The ones who never did
Lost an opportunity to experience diversity
I am autistic
I am not a tragedy
I am not robbing anything, anyone
I was not robbed of my life
I am who I am
This is my life
Copyright 2011 by Amy Sequenzia
Autism Speaks Hurts. Real People Speaking. 
I LOVE this. We are all people. I want to see you as you are, as I hope you will see me, as I am.