Jeb's Journey

These are a few commonalities among those on the Spectrum.

I live with a few of these off and on during my life. We're all different so what I experience, someone else may not.

At times I am bothered by large groups of people and talking all around me but it is different in various scenarios.

I can be at a noisy grocery store doing some shopping and that won't hinder me but a busy restaurant can overstimulate my auditory processing and I will get overwhelmed.

I also like to drive myself places so I have my car to escape to or even leave the function if needed.

~Jeb

Autism isn’t linear, not a one line with a slider.
Autism is a spectrum with different varieties of Autism, no ones Autism is the same as the other, its like different snowflake patterns.

I am definitely the latter, listening to music on repeat.

Which one are you?

June is CMV Awareness Month and I will never stop trying to educate people about the risks of CMV. If you or someone you know is going to become pregnant, you should know your CMV status and how to prevent it.

https://www.nationalcmv.org/

I am somebody born with cCMV 💙 - Jeb

In my own experience, I can say thats it is definitely a different operating system. I am neurodivergent, but I do not need a cure! I am just me, how I am!

I love music and listen to music all the time. I really like putting my music on repeat because it helps me process my thoughts. Sometimes playing my music on repeat is a great ear worm to me.

I always wear comfy clothes because when I feel comfortable my brain says to me I have confidence to accomplish what I am working on. When I wear uncomfortable clothes I feel disjointed and my brain focuses on the discomfort and I get nothing done, my thoughts go haywire.

Ever since I can remember, I have always needed to have a plan or a timeline when leaving home. When I was younger, if the plan changed by one store or stop, my thoughts would go haywire. I thrive on knowing the itinerary.

WHY THE PUZZLE PIECE IS HARMFUL
by Jeb

The puzzle piece is harmful because it represents that we are a problem that needs solving. Organizations like Autism Speaks use that symbol for us for their own goal, to "cure" us of being on the Autism Spectrum. We wish not to be cured of autism. We are who we are.

The correct symbol we use is the rainbow infinity symbol which represents the Autism Spectrum. It is broad and wide and fits everyone with autism, inclusive to everyone with autism.

I was born Christmas Eve 1999 with cCMV (cytomegalovirus infection). I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 5 and on the autism spectrum at age 6.

I graduated from Northland Pines High School in 2018 where I received awards for participating in ACADEC (academic decathlon) and was Student of the Month twice.

I received my driver's license at age 18 after having decided I did not want to ever drive. I got my first job at age 15 and just two years ago decided to make a job change where I applied, interviewed, and got the job all on my own.

And now, I am learning to be an entrepreneur to be a catalyst in the inclusion of everyone no matter what the label says