EᑕᕼOᒪᗩᒪIᗩ

𝙰𝚌𝚌𝚕𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎

𝓚𝓪𝓽𝓼𝓾𝓴𝓲 𝓑𝓪𝓴𝓾𝓰𝓸𝓾

My first day of public school was -- interesting, to say the least. I was lucky. My parents had been prepared and set me up with an IEP - Individual Education Program plan. At first, I had been against the idea of setting up accommodations. I didn't need any extra help. However, after my mom set me up with my doctor to discuss my thoughts about getting an IEP, my previous ideas were adapted. 

What I had was considered a disability. I lived with it my whole life but was only twelve when I even discovered what Autism was. I had a late start on the education portion of my condition. However, I loved to read and it became a new favorite topic of mine. I wanted to know everything about people like me. The doctor I saw that day never answered my question. Why did I have this? Why was I born like this? Why?

I didn't get an answer that day. So, I sought to find it myself. It wasn't anything interesting. I was just born this way. It could have been a multitude of things that caused this condition. Trauma during delivery, genetics, environmental factors -- anything really. Except for vaccinations. Vaccines don't cause Autism. 

I learned to live with it. My life got more challenging after my diagnosis, but I was also happier. I knew why I felt different, and why I had a hard time making friends. I understood now why loud noise and bright lights bother me. I know why I fidget and rock when overwhelmed. My mother no longer scolded me for swaying or tapping my foot. I was stimming. I was allowed to stim. It was good for me. My doctor described it as too much energy flowing through my body, too much stimulation, too much chatter in my brain. When I got overwhelmed, my body needed a way to release that extra noise inside. That was why I rocked and tapped. That's why it helped me calm down.

I loved learning. I wanted a normal education with normal people. What even was considered 'normal' nowadays? I just wanted a chance to fit in and live my life. I was 17-years-old now and had never been to a public school. I was homeschooled for as long as I could remember. I wanted friends. I wanted to live my life, and finally, my mother let me register at the local high school in our city. But only if I set up an IEP.

We met with the principal and all the teachers that I would have. I was granted permission to leave class five minutes early to avoid the loud bell and cramped hallways. I was given extra test time, although I didn't need it. Academics were one thing I had always been good at. However, I was told that public school tests could be overwhelming for me. So, I accepted the extra time. My professors were educated on Autism Spectrum Disorder before my arrival per my mother's request. 

I didn't want everyone in my business. I wanted to be a normal teenager while I still could. I wanted to be independent.Nonetheless. my mother won that argument. She thought that my teachers knowing would help me feel more at ease. If that helped me go to public school finally, then I would let it slide.

My first day came to an end and I made my way to the commons area to wait on my mom. I didn't drive, for obvious reasons. Not that I was incapable of driving, but rather, I was too nervous to get behind the wheel. I had a terrible fear of having a meltdown while driving and crashing. What if someone was in the car with me? I would never forgive myself.

"Hey, man!" I startled back at his voice and looked up from my smartphone to see big red eyes and floppy scarlet hair. Ah, yes -- the boy who uses a pen during math class. I glanced back to my lap and felt my lip twitch happily. I spoke to someone today and he didn't find me weird. At least, he didn't say anything if he had.

"Hi," I replied quietly and glanced at the time that was illuminated on my screen. Eijirou was the boy's name -- I would have to remember that.

"Are you new in town?" Eijirou asked and flopped down on the sofa seat next to me. I flinched but tried not to recoil. He smelt like cucumber and I was briefly thankful that he didn't wear any kind of stupid cologne.