M: Would you like to introduce yourself in your own words?
A: I am an eighteen year old who is a maverick with her words. I tell ‘em as I see ‘em, except my writing will keep you engaged, even if I have written about something unpleasant .
M: Can you tell us a bit about your childhood. What was it like growing up?
A: If I have to sum it up in one word- that would be happy. I knew I was different, but I also knew I was loved and cherished.
M: What was school like for you? Did you enjoy it or find it challenging, or both?
A: Schooling, for me, was definitely not a run-of -the -mill experience. Mainstream was a disaster of epic proportions. I found my footing in a small inclusive school and picked up the skill to type to communicate and found my true calling at a learning centre for neurodivergent teens and young adults.
M: Do you have any siblings? What is your relationship like with them?
A: I have a little sister who just turned seven. While there are times when we are baying for each other’s blood, at the end of the day I love her and I believe the same goes for her as well.
M: What does an ordinary day in your life look like?
A: My day begins early and I force myself to go for a half an hour walk, come rain or shine and everything in between. Clearly, I am not a big fan of exercising. My mornings are devoted to writing; between my commitments for the initiatives that I write for and my own novel and blogs, there is quite a lot to do. I have classes in the afternoon, post lunch. Evenings are for unwinding usually with a book or Netflix. I have the habit of going to bed early.
M: What support needs or accommodations do you need in your day to day?
A: I am a person who relies quite a bit on technology. I use Avaz on my iPad to have conversations, pages on MacBook Pro for my writing. WhatsApp, Instagram and LinkedIn are my preferred modes of staying in touch and networking and I use my phone for these. I also use audible extensively as I prefer audiobooks. I also use AirPods to drown out bothersome noises and have a preference for soft and muted lighting in my room, besides bedding of very light and neutral colours .
M: When did you get your autism diagnosis?
A: In early childhood, when I was less than three years old.
M: What did the diagnosis mean to your parents? Did they ever talk to you about it?
A: It must have surely been a journey for them. I realised I was very different from the others around me when I was around 5, I guess, and could see my peers at school and the apartment do some things effortlessly, while I struggled, like talking and writing and getting messy in the sand but not giving a damn! I have heard the word autism being used at home and school before the conversation when I was told I am autistic .
M: In your Instagram bio, you say autism is your USP. Can you elaborate on that. What do you mean by that?
A: I believe there are two perspectives to being anything - one is to dwell upon all that is lost because you are a certain way and the other is to focus on the strengths or unique traits that being different brings your way. For me, it is the fact that I observe a lot more than most my age and can understand what is not being told. As a writer, this ability has held me in good stead and probably that is why the tales I spin are so relatable. So yes, I guess when I say autism is my USP, it is my way of dwelling on the positives.
M: If you had to summarise your journey with autism how would you do that?
A: A roller coaster with no end point, except somewhere along you learn to become adept at riding it
M: Do you like roller coasters? In general?
A: I am a bit of a chicken when it comes to rollercoasters that are not metaphorical, so have not bothered to get on one ever
M: What is something you wish more people understood about autism?
A: Autism is a different way of being , learning and relating to the people around. Different is not necessarily wrong! While we do require accommodations to live to the best of our ability, what we do not need is ‘therapy’ to ‘correct’ the way we relate to others and perceive the world .
M: I know a few parents with non verbal young kids who will be reading this piece. What is it that you would like to tell them?
A: You might want to word this question as non speaking:) So, yes, what I want to say is that speech is not the only mode of communication and if your child is trying hard but is unable to speak and you keep insisting on speech, you are just pushing your child deeper into an abyss . Please introduce your child to AAC. There are many options out there, you could choose the one that works the best for you and your child. Make sure to help your child find her voice, for everybody deserves a voice.
M: Thank you for correcting me there. Will be using the term "non-speaking" going forward.
M: You are barely 18. You are already a published author. You have a blog. And you are a prolific writer. What got you into writing?
A: I have always enjoyed observing people around me and forming colourful tales in my head . Over time , it became my favourite pastime since , well , I am so different and could not relate to most of my peers, growing up . I did not have an appropriate mode to put these tales to paper until I was introduced to typing on the laptop . Creating my blog page www.smallstepbigthought.blogspot.com was one of the first things I did once I picked up the skill to type. The positive feedback and reviews that I received for my blogs encouraged me to get my short story collection, Small Stories Big Thoughts, published. This book received positive reader responses from various quarters, including Stanford Neurodiversity Project. This book recently went into its third imprint. In the meantime, I had self published my novella With You Right Through on kindle. My parents happened to chance upon the newspaper advertisement calling for applications for Auther Awards Season 4, by JK Paper and The Times of India. They enrolled With You Right Through for the Best Manuscript category. While I did not expect too much, since there were entries from all over India, I actually won the best manuscript award and that was a huge shot in the arm for the writer in me. The novel is now published as Gobble Thy Prejudice and is available on Amazon and some indie bookstores as well. And the rest, as they say, is history!
M: Did you ever wish that you were someone else? I ask this not because you are autistic, but because you are human. Growing up, I always wanted to be someone else. Anyone but me. Self love didn’t come naturally to me. It is something I had to teach myself in my twenties. Now at 30, all I want to be is authentically me. But, from everything I have read of yours, it feels like you are already there. Hence the curiosity.
A: Obviously , like everyone else , I have days when I wish I didn't have to deal with the multiple challenges that being autistic has thrown my way , but wishing so is not going to make it go away . So , I chose to focus on the positives , like my ability to spin tales and that makes me feel good about myself .
M: Any last thoughts you would like to leave our readers with?
A: I read something years ago on the back cover of my mother’s phone and that became the voice in my head; ‘The mind is everything. You are what you think.’
Rapid fire-
Favourite book - Haroun and The Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie, Looking for The Rainbow by Ruskin Bond and The Mating Season by P G Wodehouse
Favourite movie - Confessions of a shopaholic, The Devil Wears Prada, The Runaway Bride, Spirited Away, Khoobsurat.
Favourite singer - Kishore Kumar, ABBA, Elvis Presley, Taylor Swift and BTS
A moment of your life that makes you happy - When I am in the mountains on a cold winter morning soaking in the calm over piping hot breakfast and coffee
What is something people often get wrong about you - When people say this I get irritated, ‘you are so sweet’, I am not.
A core childhood memory - Our trip to Shimla in December and playing with snow
What is something you are struggling with right now - We all struggle with so many things always, will be tough to pinpoint one.
What is a recent accomplishment you are proud of - I was selected as Fellow of the Fellowship at Artivist Fellowship 2023 of YLAC for my campaign mind.the.spectrum. Our team was adjudged the Team Of the Fellowship.
It’s a beautiful initiative, Mansi! This interview is so wholesome and gives us such a good insight into a brilliant and a loving mind. The questions are so thoughtful and answers are so very interesting. It was an overall awesome read. Hungry for more 😊
ReplyDeleteGood read as always, Aditi! We need more people spreading awareness about and normalising the use of AAC without fearing how technology could be addictive for the children/ adolescents.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this one
ReplyDeleteSpinning Tales is a common trait with NTs. Hence my request is to kindly desist from using that term so many times. BTW have u ever spun tales to bail you out of situations other than spinning tales for your writing
ReplyDeleteHi. Just saw this comment today and I find it very interesting that you associate spinning tales to only neurotypicals!! Are you one of those who believe that autistics are guileless so can’t spin tales or don’t possess the imagination to spin tales? I love the term so I will use it wherever I deem fit. It might just open up a few opportunities to clarify a few misconceptions! As for me spinning tales to get out of a situation , well that is something so personal that I choose not to answer:)
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