Your Story Matters | Jessica – Autism Acceptance Month 2025
26th April 2025
Author
Ross
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This April, for Autism Acceptance Month, we’re celebrating differences. Every journey with autism is unique and whether it’s your personal experience or that of your child and family, your story can help others feel seen, understood, and supported.
As part of Autism Acceptance Month, we’ve invited autistic individuals, parents, caregivers, and families to share their experiences and were overwhelmed by the response.
Today, we would love to introduce you to Jessica:
My name is Jessica and I was diagnosed with Autism when I was 7. It took a long time for me to understand my identity as an autistic person. I was shown videos by ‘Autism Speaks’ that depicted autism as being like a monster, and something evil to be fought against. This massively impacted my self-esteem. I was placed in inpatient psychiatric wards in my pre-teens and early teens and also a residential therapeutic school.
I had awful experiences in these places, and feel they did not understand my autistic identity at all. However, I’ve been able to learn for myself how my autism affects me and how it can bring challenges but also so many strengths. I ended up attending a mainstream school and doing well in my GCSE’s despite being told I would never pass any exams. I then did A-Levels at a mainstream college that had excellent SEN provision, and then I completed a degree and Master’s degree at university. I have made a career in Lived Experience support and research. I have been able to work on large scale research studies, chairing and coordinating Lived Experience Advisory Panels, ensuring that those with lived experience of mental health struggles and neurodiversity are at the forefront of the research process, and decisions about their care. I now work as a Peer Support Worker in inpatient services, providing a strengths-based and person-centred approach. I am so grateful for the help of Autism Anglia over the years, who have helped me understand my identity when other services couldn’t.
A big thank you to Jessica from all of us at Autism Anglia. If you would like to know more about what we’re doing this Autism Acceptance Month, click here.
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