Perfectly Different

By Anna Krause

 You don't know much about Autism?
Then let me tell you more
What it's like to live a day in my shoes
And how much we have to fight for

It's a long and winding journey
It is one that will never end
Just when you turn a corner...
Along comes another bend

Although I try really hard
Some days I struggle to cope
But through the difficult days
I always hold onto a glimmer of hope

Each individual with Autism
Is perfectly different and unique
Some Autistic people talk a lot
And some never learn to speak

But just because we have a label
It doesn't mean we are all the same
We all have our own personality
And we each have our own name

Being different can be challenging
It can make life harder to get through
Especially when certain people
Just don't seem to have a clue

If I don't respond when you talk to me
Don't think that I'm ignoring you
I may understand what you say
But communicating is hard for me to do

I can find social situations difficult
And I may react unpredictably
But I can't control my behaviours
And it's not that I'm being naughty

Autism is a spectrum condition
So don't think that you know me
From something you've read in a book
Or something you've watched on tv

I am a person with Autism
And I face challenges every day
But don't think that I wont be someone
Just because I don't react to what you say