Allow me to reintroduce myself

When I think about it, the title of this post is appropriate. Yes, it's my first post on this brand-new blog, but in a way, it is a re-introduction. 

You see, I've just recently learned something about myself - something that others have hinted at for a while, but that I was hesitant to accept without a professional's input. Something that explains a lot about my personality, behavior, and how I interact with the world around me.

If you haven't figured it out by now, the name of this blog should give it away.

I am autistic.


More specifically, I have autism spectrum disorder, level 1. This is the condition previously known as "high-functioning autism." Level 1 ASD can be difficult to define because it can present differently in each person. In my case, for example, I have an IQ in the 99th percentile, but tend to say and/or do things in public or while interacting with others that most people would find odd or even inappropriate. I often fail to look at people while they're speaking to me, and I feel most comfortable "inside my own head." At the same time that I received my diagnosis of ASD, I also was told that I have ADHD, a condition I share with a close family member. The two coexist much of the time, though the comorbidity rate falls along a wide range.


While this newly-discovered neurodivergence (or neurodiversity, or neuroatypicality) of mine will certainly be an important part of my identity from here on out, it's not all I am. I'm also a son, a brother, an uncle, a language nerd, a laboratory employee, and a soccer referee.

Which brings me to the second "a" in "autistic arbiter." The word "arbiter" means "judge" in Latin and is the source of the word for "referee" in several of the Romance languages, as well as of English words like "arbitrage" and "arbitration." I've been interested in officiating for years now, but just got into it last year at the prompting of a close relative. I completed my training and received my badge last August and had my first game in October. Since then, I've probably officiated around one hundred youth soccer games, and hope to work many hundreds more at as many levels of the sport as possible.


I don't want this post to be too long, so I think I'll end it here. Expect to hear much more from me as we all travel together on this journey known as life.


Until next time,
A.A.


Comments

  1. AlexApril 26, 2023 at 2:32 PM

    Well said! I couldn't be more proud of you. Cant wait for the next post. Love you.

    ReplyDelete

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