GROWING UP AUTISTIC

Abigail Brooke, Sarah Bosibori, and Karen Muriuki, speak out on what it is like to grow up autistic, perceptions people have about the condition and how we can come up to support the autistic community.

- ALISON SIFUMA

ABIGAIL BROOKE, 36

The Mzungu Awareness Walker

FB: The walking autism

I was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome [A condition on the autism spectrum that affects a person’s ability to communicate and socialize] back in the 80s, when I was 13-years-old. My mom had to take me back to England for the diagnosis because specifics of my condition at the time were not known.

Being thirteen I didn’t understand my condition and had no one to talk to about my challenges. But it was very clear that I was different from the other kids in my neighbourhood and in school.

This meant being excluded from every activity, getting teased a lot and having to carry the shame.

I did try to hide my disability as much as I could but quickly realised that having Autism isn’t like a cut. You can’t just put a band-aid on it and go on with life like nothing happened.

Because of always being alone my mental health deteriorated. I spiralled down into depression and by the time I turned 18-years-old I had tried committing suicide. It was the only way I felt could stop the pain of being me.

Eventually, I sought counselling and by the time I turned 27 I had begun to fully understand, and accept myself. I set out on a journey to help others do the same and that is when the Walking with Autism project was started.

The project is aimed at creating awareness and acceptance of autism within the country and hopefully the continent.

I use camels and go for long-distance walks throughout the country educating people about Autism from an autistic person’s view.