My name is Alice, I’m 27 years old and live in Meltham. I’d love to share my story with you.
Life has not always been the easiest for me. You see, I have undiagnosed autism as well as cerebral palsy. However, thanks to a Huddersfield company, I was reminded that, no matter what difficulties you may face, magic is real.
I’m undiagnosed because I had really bad experience in 2019. I got a diagnostic assessment and scored really highly on all the tests, but at the last appointment they said they weren’t going to give me a diagnosis.
They said that was because my cerebral palsy made it difficult to socialise anyway (not true) and sent me away with a leaflet for social prescribing, regardless of what I’d showcased during the assessment.
I want to keep fighting for a diagnosis, but since this was in 2019 Covid-19 happened shortly after and I haven’t been able to go back since. However, because I was suffering so much me and my family decided to make the relevant accommodations at home, and now I’m much happier.
The Disney film Frozen is my special interest, because it’s all about a girl with unique abilities realising that what makes her different and sometimes ostracised is actually what makes her powerful.
And on Sunday July 24, thanks to Huddersfield-based company Perfectly Princess Events, I finally got to meet the snow queen herself!
We sang and read stories together whilst she painted snowflakes on my cheeks and giggled over our matching outfits!
We talked about how her going to find the answers about her powers was like me still trying to get my autism diagnosis, and how it’s okay to be yourself regardless of what others say.
I told her I didn’t have a best friend and she said that was okay because she was my best friend now. I gave her a friendship bracelet that splits in half (we each have a side) and she put a snowflake she made herself onto a necklace for me!
I shared my experience in some of my favourite Facebook and Reddit groups, and together, the posts have amassed 7,976 likes and more are pouring in.
It’s so great to be able to spread joy like this, and I want to be able to spread it a little further. I was talking to a member of one of the groups and he said that, as an autistic man, he was afraid to be himself because of what people would think, that they would mock.
It made me realise that due to a lack of acceptance and diagnoses (especially for girls) so many autistic people are suffering in silence.
I’d like to bring awareness to that, and highlight that although there are flaws in the diagnostic process, we need to be brave and show the world who we truly are.
Regardless of our differences, we are all worthy of equality, love and acceptance, and we shouldn’t have to conceal our true selves for fear of society’s judgement. It’s time to let it go.
