letter to the editor

Autistic and proud

Posted

Autistic and proud

To the Editor

My name is Masha Nockenofsky. I am 18 years old and I’m an autistic child. My youngest brother is the same thing, too. If you are all wondering why I’m so different from everybody else in the world, here’s how it all started.

When I was about four years old, not much of a big girl yet, I wasn’t so used to being built in a different way. Unlike my big brother and sister, they weren’t born autistic, but me and Yaakov Yisrael, my brother were born differently. (Did I forget to mention about the time when I got myself into Mommy’s blueberry cake and she got angry at the mess that I did?)

Well, that was only fourteen years ago before I even started playgroup.

By the time I was 11 years old, I had to be transferred to another school. And that was, Kulanu Torah Academy Middle School. It was a little scary at first, but then I got used to it.

Another thing that is so different about me is my hobbies and my interests.

At the age of 12, my very first interest was Hello Kitty. But, then it all came to a big end by the time I was already thirteen when I wanted to pick out Fur Real Friends. I have about a bunch of them, but I don’t think about playing with them.

Next, at fourteen, my second interest was American Girl Dolls. I have about nine of them already. Oh, yes, and I also have quite a few porcelain dolls, but they made for display, only. Then at age 15-17 I played with Play Mobil, but suddenly I stopped it all by the time I had turned 18 years old.

I’m right now 18 years old, a big girl in high school, with lots of abilities for writing stories, working and coming up with great ideas. Though I may be a little different from everybody, I finally had gotten over that when I figured out that not everybody is the same.

Everybody is made differently, like me and my brother.

And the last and most important thing that I want you all to hear about me is I don’t actually mind being made differently from everybody because I am happy with the way Hashem made me. I know that HE loves me and takes care of me.

1)Q: If you had to suddenly leave home in an emergency, what two things would you take?

Page 1 / 5