Before I begin, I would like to thank each of you for being here today. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jim Irion. I am currently an independent mental health advocate with published writing and a wealth of community service volunteer experience. To summarize mental health, there is a quote by French philosopher René Descartes that I like to share.
“I think; therefore I am.” Psychology influences our thinking and behavior. Whether you have a diagnosed condition or not, mental health has equal relevance to each of us. My goal will be to present imperative information about autism services and mental health needs.
First, I would like to begin by giving you a background of my education and work history. In 2000, I graduated from high school. During my senior year, I made the honor roll for the first time because I wanted to finish with a strong show of effort. Then, I attended college for two years and graduated with a Letters, Arts, Sciences Art-History degree. The following year, I got my first full-time job. I worked for the next four years and earned enough money to buy my very first car.
In early 2008, I decided to leave my job and returned to the same university. Two years later, I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in History and a minor in Criminal Justice. Unlike my first time attending, I joined two student clubs and participated in community service volunteering with them.
I made the Dean’s List twice for the first times ever and earned lifetime honorary memberships to the national honor societies for both history and criminal justice. After graduation, I was elected to the local chapter of their alumni board and served one of two consecutive three-year terms. Here, I participated in a much wider range of community service than I had as a student.
The struggling economy limited my employment opportunities. Between 2011 and 2014, I worked two sets of temp assignments. I performed so well I was asked to return to both locations. However, long-term employment was not their intention. In early 2015, I was hired at a call center for technical customer service.
I worked there for one year until my employment was terminated. Later that year, in 2016, I undertook a difficult journey, alone, to confront what I suspected was more than just my youth diagnosis of attention deficit disorder. As a result of resource barriers, I learned more about my mental health in 2022 than in the previous 30 years.
So, in summary, I graduated high school at age 18, attended college for two years, worked full-time for four, returned to college for another two years, worked temp jobs for roughly four, followed by another full-time job for one year. Since 2016, I have been unemployed. Before I continue, I want to take a moment to emphasize my style of dress and personal attributes.
A presentable appearance. A capable person. Good personal hygiene. Intelligent. Very articulate. Modest posture and eye contact. What I am about to reveal will address the contentious debate about acceptance for resource availability. In 2019, at the age of 37, I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
According to the NIMH, “Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave.” Can it be treated? Should it be? Is autism accepted? Why is this important? Are there enough resources and services? What is it like not knowing until this far into adulthood?
What you are about to realize is just how inaccurate the high-functioning label actually is for me. As I review my past, you will see not only the consequences of late-diagnosis, but also greater peril for all who are on the spectrum particularly over the age of 21.
In school as early as fourth grade, I was mercilessly bullied. During 2018, I was bullied by a member of a local non-profit organization. Considering their adult age and status of community leadership, they should have known better. But I now know that my autistic trait of being unfiltered has contributed to and even increased the amount of conflict I experience.
Despite developing lasting friendships since high school, I have never truly felt like I fit in with my peers or belong amongst normal society. Now, I recognize neurodivergent thinking has caused this perception in addition to peer pressure, social trends, and superficial demographics such as economic standing.
Dating rejection has been a constant and depressing struggle. Unfortunately, now I know oversharing ruined many of my attempts to date. Being unable to read social cues also caused me to miss women who, as I later found out, were interested in me. Missed opportunities for meaningful companionship haunt me nearly every single time I see it in someone else.
This includes the fact that I have missed the ideal time of my life to settle down and have children. The impact of these factors should not be underestimated. Here is a reason why: I have a past history with suicide and it is directly linked to autism.
“If I cannot decide whether or not to live my life no one can make that decision for me.” Only one year after graduating high school, this was exactly how I felt about my life. Two years later, I attempted suicide at age 21. I now recognize this pattern of thinking as being influenced by the directness inherent with autism. But it did not stop there.
Since 2014, I have experienced no fewer than three relapses through acts of suicide furtherance. These involve greater risk of self-harm than ideations. The last two of mine coincided with bullying and discrimination from within my own community. The most recent was by a major employment services provider who attempted to accuse me of misconduct when I had taken too long to achieve progress. I had no representation.
Abrupt changes associated with some attempts of discrimination can destabilize a person’s mental health. Sometimes these will result in acts of furtherance or defamation that prevents the individual from obtaining assistance they need. From 2020 to 2022, I suffered through four discriminatory incidents. Three were from a single entity. I sought to schedule an in-person meeting for assistance at an unnamed facility.
Then, I was accused of spooking the attendant I spoke with. In my defense, I expressed how adamant I was for having my suicide survival story published the previous month. I also properly self-identified as a suicide attempt survivor. I lost the Affirmative Action case and appeal. Research the March 2019 case of Osaze Osagie and you will find how easy it is for worse to happen. Yet, the most impactful issue of my life remains.
There is an important reason why I shared my background of work experience and education. To blend in. My two college attendances were based on compromised decision making. It is common for people to work in a field different from their college degree. I have worked summer jobs, temp jobs, and two full-time jobs, all while being unable to decide on my own what to do with my life.
People change jobs and work in different career fields all the time. Except that now I know the reason why I have had such difficulty with the most important integration into society. Ever since junior high, the critical point of my development for making impactful life decisions, many of my career decisions have been impeded by what is known as masking.
Masking is a natural defense mechanism that involves mimicking the behavior of others in order to blend in. As a result, many are unaware of engaging in it and of the damage it may cause. Masking suppresses an autistic person’s natural inclinations and may adversely influence making certain decisions, such as avoiding unhealthy relationships or choosing purposeful employment.
By unknowingly suppressing the interests I was naturally drawn to by autism, I fell into the trap of making career decisions based on what I was encouraged to do by those around me. The longer I masked myself to others, the more emotionally detached and despondent I felt. By not resolving this problem sooner, the arrested development alone has caused long-term severe depression, multiple suicide experiences, both permanent economic and social damage to my life.
Now that I know, are there enough effective resources specific to autistic needs for those who are, and will be, over the age of 21? According to my research, no. Housing assistance is available through certain agencies. Waiver services are available to apply. However, some agencies stipulate eligibility requirements based on the ability to function or IQ level. As my evidence indicates, this is clearly problematic.
Furthermore, existing mental health services are not adequate for my autism needs. General counseling helps general counseling necessities, but it does not remedy my constant neurodivergent thinking or behavior. Psychiatry has limited effect because my neurodivergent thinking reduces the effectiveness of medications such as anti-depressants. Therefore, I must conclude current research needs to be re-evaluated and soon.
I am not the only one.
My informal research indicates that this is a widespread issue. I have found an abundance of compelling and time-sensitive autism needs from a variety of individuals. Learning assistance and individualized education plans stop at high school. Most of a person’s life continues long after graduation. Now, I understand how autism still causes legitimate developmental issues well into adulthood.
For example, I will never know how many times I fail to obtain or hold a job because I overshare, was too direct, or miss social cues with co-workers or during interviews. There are things I have not done yet, such as living on my own. I am in my early forties. There are also suggestions for autism care I am trying figure out for others while I need the same help. Time is of the essence.
The facts of my life demonstrate why this discussion must not stop with me or end here today. Much needs to be done to encourage acceptance for those who are autistic, and to improve our quality of life regardless of the ability to function. I can help but I have no agency for sponsorship or gainful employment. The time to advocate for our future is now. I volunteer.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
(Original Intellectual Property Rights: July 25, 2022)
