Autism acceptance month – Staff experiences
For Autism Acceptance Month, we asked staff - with support from the Lived Experience Network - to share their experiences of what being autistic meant to them.
Today, we hear the experiences from Alexander Enahoro, Michael Arhin Acquaah and a member of staff who would prefer to remain anonymous.
Alexander Enahoro
“I was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD in 2017 at the age of 33. I'm now 41. It was a long struggle to get there.
I developed EUPD, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, PTSD and Depression as a result of my trauma being shamed, mistreated and exploited for being neurodiverse.
In previous jobs I came close to breakdowns. Working for the Trust has been the first time my neurodiversity has been acknowledged, supported and respected as it wasn't in most of my schools and my previous workplaces. I have healed in the workplace. Reasonable adjustments were made for me, for the first time.
I have been with the Trust for two years as an employees and a year as a volunteer prior to that. My mental health is the best it's ever been and I no longer carry self stigma towards my neurodiversity.
My neurodiversity has become an asset in the workplace. I no longer need to mask which caused burnout. I have empathy, hyper focus and openness through my Autism which has helped my work.
I have turned a new chapter having gone from being a former patient for Schizophrenia, to now working at the hospital where I now work as an expert of experience.”
Anonymous
“As a Black woman of Caribbean heritage, living with suspected autism has been both isolating and, at times, empowering.
Staff working in the Trust don’t get a "priority" status when it comes to assessments and diagnoses. We’re all in the same queue, waiting for someone to tell us what’s wrong—or, more accurately, what’s different about us.
And though the waiting list for my diagnosis feels never-ending, it has also given me time to reflect on the things I’ve learned about myself and the strength I’ve built. I’ve grown to understand that living with suspected autism, while challenging, isn’t a negative. It’s just another way of being.
As time has gone on, I have slowly learned to embrace the parts of me that don’t fit neatly into society’s boxes, and I’m learning to use my experiences to break down barriers, both for myself and for others.
In my professional life, one of the positives I’ve developed is my ability to stay organised. The structure I need in my personal life has translated into a skill that’s invaluable at work. I’m efficient, methodical, and can juggle multiple tasks. But there’s a flip side to this too.
My straightforwardness, my blunt approach to communication, can sometimes come off as harsh. I don’t have time for small talk, and I don’t like ambiguity. What’s clear to me in my mind can sometimes be perceived as rude or insensitive by others.
There’s still so much unknown about autism for me but living with this uncertainty has made me more resilient, more empathetic, and more determined to push for better understanding and support in the world around me.”
Michael Arhin Acquaah
“As a peer support worker, it is really cathartic and uplifting to use my own lived experiences as an autistic person to support other autistic adults.
I enjoy speaking to so many autistic people from so many walks of life.
My Access to Work recommendations help me to be my very best. Noise cancelling headphones are really useful for my hectic commute. Brain in Hand means that I always have someone to talk to if I am feeling overwhelmed and their app supports me in managing my time well.”
Thank you to everyone who contributed and shared their story this Autism Acceptance Month.
