Living with Autism: V1

[tuesdaysart]

I haven't seen a thread like this before, so I decided to make one myself!
I wanted to see how many other people are on the Autism spectrum on Chicken Smoothie and hear their stories- when they first found out, how they were diagnosed, their special interests, etc.
Perhaps I should start this thread by introducing myself:
My username: Cali Spaniel
When I was first diagnosed: Before I could remember, I believe when I was one?
When I first found out: When I was around 10, when I first realized I was different from the other kids in my elementary school (but then again, I'd recently moved and I was a year younger than everyone else due to the cut off date in my old state and I was still very much a child while all the other kids acted like middle schoolers).
My special interests: Art and animation mostly, though I have a broad span of things that intrigue me.
How I stim: I usually stim by playing with my hair, though I bounce my legs sometimes and I have a hunch that I have a chewing stim (I love chewing gum and I'm desiring to chew on something even as I'm typing this).
Please follow Chicken Smoothie's guidelines and be respectful towards one another.
So, how do you experience autism?

[tuesdaysart]

Bump!

[Ethulai]

There is already a thread here