| "I spent my whole life trying to fit in, to be like other people. I pushed myself to the edge trying to belong, until I realized there was nothing wrong with me.
Autism isn't something to fight; it's an inseparable part of who I am. Once I accepted this truth, I stopped chasing an impossible version of myself and embraced the real me. For years, I was told that if I were just "more normal," I'd be more successful, more accepted, more valued. I exhausted myself trying to mask and meet expectations never meant for me. The harder I tried, the more I lost myself. And the more I lost myself, the more I suffered from horrific anxiety attacks.
But I do belong. I always did. I just needed to stop looking for belonging in the wrong places. Today, I am a PhD candidate in AI ethics and thriving in a career where I'm valued for who I am. I am married to the love of my life, who doesn't see an Autistic person but just sees me. Autism is acceptance, and in accepting myself, I finally found where I belong."
The Autism Is campaign is shaped by stories like Craig’s—amplifying the voices and lived experiences of Autistic individuals. We want to hear what Autism Is to you. | 
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