Though these are challenging times, we hope these stories offer a look into the many diverse perspectives in our community, and provide inspiring and uplifting content when we need it most.

Meet Nils S.

I first realized that I had Asperger's syndrome when one of my high school counselors unintentionally revealed the news to me during a session. Although I had been officially diagnosed with autism at the age of 10, I didn’t know until that day.

When I came to learn about what having Asperger's entailed, I was more understanding, but I did not feel comfortable disclosing it to my peers because of my concerns about bullying and ostracism. Over the years, however, I've come to appreciate how it gives me a different perspective and has been advantageous to me in many ways.

My autism gives me a narrow and single-minded focus on my topics of specialization, particularly the field of history which I'm very passionate about. It has given me a very diligent work ethic, as I always bring a firm commitment to fulfilling the tasks that I am given. In addition, I have a very strong attention span and I can type very fast. Consequently, I've developed a thriving side career as a freelance journalist, and my articles have covered various topics, including history, travel, and issues relating to autism and the disability community in general.

The struggles that I have faced as a result of my autism have included the challenge of securing academic accommodations in the form of Individualized Education Program (IEP) during high school; speaking in front of audiences; social interaction with my peers; and finding acceptance among many of my peers. I’ve become more confident in my ability to speak before audiences; have made many new friends and have generally become more integrated into social life. I still feel, however, that some of my peers are not fully accepting of me.

I'm most passionate about the field of history, especially Civil War history, and I really enjoy visiting historic landmarks from the Civil War here in North Carolina and in Virginia. I always relish the opportunity to learn about the Civil War ancestors of the people I meet, and I've created a personal blog that features their stories. I'm also highly passionate about theater.

My personal and professional goals include living independently and finding a full-time career in the historical or library field upon completion of my second master's degree in Library and Information Sciences (I have a previous master's degree in History).

My advice to anyone who was recently diagnosed would be; don't let this inhibit you from reaching your potential. Don't see it as something to be ashamed of. Instead, recognize the various strengths that autism gives you and utilize those strengths in order to succeed. There are many social challenges that come with being on the spectrum, but if you work on mastering these challenges, you will have a positive and thriving social life.

Hear a mother’s perspective on Nils’ autism journey through this Q&A with his mom, Renee:

What makes you most proud of Nils?

His name in Swedish means "champion." I cannot think of a more appropriate name for my son - he champions the rights of autistic people and models the role of someone who is proud of who he is and his confidence in his own abilities. He is the most courageous person I have ever known. He is never afraid of challenges -- he embraces them.  When one of the psychologists told me, "he won't be able to succeed in college, let alone U.C. Berkeley," he not only succeeded but he graduated phi beta kappa - with straight "A's.” He also went on to found "Spectrum at UNCG," an organization dedicated to promoting autism awareness on the campus of University North Carolina Greensboro and fostering community and support for students with autism.

What do you hope the future holds for your son?

In August, Nils will receive his second master's in Library Studies. He is starting to search for full-time employment as a military historian, librarian, archivist or curator at a university, library, historic site or museum. However, because of the pandemic, finding work has been tremendously difficult, especially given the fact that hiring seems to have stopped for the employment venues that Nils is interested in -- libraries, museums, historic sites and state archives.. One would think it might be fairly easy to find employment with two master’s degrees, but this is not the case. I am hoping he eventually finds a job that he loves and finds gratifying.  I also hope he finds a romantic partner, which he really wants. The girl of his dreams hasn’t appeared yet.

What advice would you give to other parents who have a child/children on the spectrum?

Build a community. The old adage: it takes a village to raise a child certainly rings true. In our case, my family was not there for us. I would say: stay away from anyone who is not supportive, kind, helpful. I would also encourage people to get supports right away -- therapists, social skills groups, as many interventions as possible. Nils was totally mainstreamed in school. I kept him busy with theater camps (he really enjoyed these), other activities, piano lessons. I'd also say: love your child beyond reason -- tell them how great they are, how talented they are while still admitting to them they are different and would be perceived as such.

Why would you recommend other autism families reach out to Autism Speaks when they are in need of assistance - regardless of what they might need?

What helped me more than anything was knowing that there was a community that had my back and that I could go to them with my problems. I know they will understand my neuro-diverse child and his behaviors. You need someone who understands the complexity of this diagnosis and its consequences. Autism Speaks is a wonderful resource with people who are not only knowledgeable about what an autism diagnosis entails but also have the empathy that is so critical for those of us with neuro-diverse children.

The story shared above represents the experience, views and perspectives of the individual(s) highlighted. We aim to share stories across the spectrum and throughout the life span, but the information provided on our website is not a recommendation, referral or endorsement of any resource, therapeutic method, or service provider and does not replace the advice of medical, legal or educational professionals.