A different kind of normal.

Three months ago, I sat down in the psychologists office with my three year old daughter – she was displaying quite a number of “red flags” and this appointment was the first step in the journey to having her diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome.

As we chatted away, Bailey crawled inside a pop-up tent. She wrapped herself in a soft fleece blanket (Bailey chose to wear her swimmers to this appointment – so the feel of the fabric on her bare skin must have been enjoyable!)

Natasha, the psychologist, took me into her office and handed me a copy of an article by Tony Attwood – “Discovering Aspie Criteria”. It put a positive spin on the current diagnostic criteria for Aspergers and was an interesting read. I appreciated this approach – after all, diagnosis or not this was still my daughter. The article drew attention to the positives of being neurologically different.

During our appointment, it was also suggested I get hold of a copy of “Aspergirls” by Rudy Simone. I flipped through Natasha’s copy, and decided to invest the $25-odd dollars on my own.

Within hours, I’d purchased and devoured this book – and the results of doing so have changed my life forever.

That day was a turning point in my life, for it was the day I discovered I have Aspergers Syndrome.

Page after page, I resonated with the words. The anecdotes were so familiar, it was as though they’d been written about my life. Everything from my preferences in clothing, to partners, to hobbies – all explained by two little letters – “AS”

Relief. The word itself doesn’t do the feeling justice. FINALLY, I felt as though I belonged.

For 26 years, I’ve struggled to relate and interact with my peers. I’ve had trouble understanding things that to others, seemed second nature.

I’d struggled with feeling overwhelmed – both by noise, smells, emotions and even physical contact.

Suddenly, it was like the missing piece of my puzzle fell into place. My struggles and confusion were validated, and I’d discovered that I was not alone, that there is nothing “wrong” with me, and that there is a reason for my feelings of inadequacy throughout my life.

On Monday, 2^nd April 2012 – Autism Awareness Day - I will again meet with Natasha. This time I will be there to receive my own diagnosis... not because I need confirmation, but because the rest of the world seems to.

In the past few months, I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been told “oh, you can’t have Aspergers, you’re so normal!”

And you know what... they’re right! I am normal!

Being diagnosed with Aspergers won’t change who I am. It won’t suddenly render me any worse off (in fact, the opposite may be true!)

I’m just a different kind of normal :)