There’s a quiet, extraordinary kind of bravery in the journey toward discovering one’s true self—a process that often feels like peeling back layers of armor you didn’t even realize you were wearing. Each misstep, every challenge, becomes a stepping stone, leading you closer to the core of who you are. For me, this process of unmasking has been like standing in front of a mirror for the first time and recognizing not just the reflection, but the entire story behind it.
Yesterday, I took another step on this path with an affirming and validating call from the neurodivergent therapist who will conduct my autism assessment. Let’s call her D. She explained the process with a warmth that immediately put me at ease, which is no small feat given the nervous energy assessments tend to stir in me. The first task? Completing a set of online questionnaires designed to help solidify the foundation of my accommodation requests.
The results were illuminating, confirming what my gut had long suspected. They brought a sense of relief but also a flicker of nerves about the next steps. I’d read online that assessments like this typically take six hours, and the thought of enduring that much sensory and social strain all at once felt overwhelming. Thankfully, D gets it—she understands the unique needs of someone like me. Instead of one marathon session, she scheduled six one-hour appointments, turning what could have been an ordeal into something manageable. It’s a small but profound reminder of how the right accommodations can transform what might feel impossible into something doable.
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