Kayleigh Corkery, "Her Autistic Reality" (Creative 2021)

Autism. What’s known as a disability. A full spectrum that is. As an individual who was diagnosed at only four years old and now, an advocate at twenty five, I have something to say about this wonderful, creative, kind hearted yet disadvantaged way of being… That is we deserve to be noticed, loved, respected and certainly not overlooked! Growing up, it was without a doubt hard on both personal and school life. It was difficult making and keeping friends especially as I grew older into my high school years and honestly, even now as an adult! I unintentionally put a strain on my family, had grandparents who didn’t believe in my disability and countless meetings with professionals. (Speech therapy, people who would make plans for me, doctors appointments). People then began to notice how I always needed the "extra" help from the teachers EA, oh how vulnerable, “childlike” and “weird” I was. I even pretended for all those years that I was “normal” but what even is normal? When anxiety and tremors would take over and any kind of change that would happen, I lost utter control of my body, feelings and thought process. I just didnt understand the world like others, it was a scary place for me. I had to keep trying again and again and again. Although without some of those experiences and challenges I would not have the motivation, drive and success I have built now. A few major examples are that I am a reigning queen for Premiere Elite Pageants, Australia 2021, a freelance model who got two professional runway shows in the space of a month, became a hair model, an ambassador for Times Up Escape Rooms, started a makeup page, expressing my creative side, getting myself out there into the world. Believe me when I say: “If you stick to your morals, and put your head down and work, you can achieve anything and everything that you always dream of and aspire to be.” But also don’t forget our universal saying: “Different, not less.” -Keely

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