Ira's Story

I can hardly believe that in less than two months I will be moving into my own apartment and living by myself. I never thought this day would ever come. I am presently living in an apartment with a roommate, but looking forward to living in my own place. I never thought I could live without my parents--ever. I can get anywhere I desire completely independently by Metra, CTA, Pace or Taxi. This has been my best year yet and I have to say that I finally know what it's like to be satisfied, which is so great. At one time I could not even cross my own street unsupervised or go anywhere locally without an adult. I have to say I have come along way. Not long ago I felt insecure and inferior, especially when I was unemployed. Little did I know. I am now very happy with my job at Whole Foods Market where I work in the deli doing food preparation and dishwashing. The benefits are excellent and I feel accepted there. I never thought I could have a job like I do now.

Things have sure improved over the years. I am getting lots of help from many different people. I feel accepted not only where I work, but just about everywhere I go. It wasnt always this way. Back in middle school I really didn't have any friends. I have sure made up for that now. I can hardly believe all of the things I have lived through. I never knew that things would really improve. I felt like the odd child in every school I previously attended. Teasing, provoking and harassing others, and bullying took place in school all the time. When I was younger, even I thought it was cool to make fun of others. I felt bad because the reason I didnt do it was that I would get in trouble with the staff. I always thought I would get the blame since everybody was so used to seeing them act that way and would find it unusual for me to act that way. I always wondered what they would think of me if I tried to get them back. In every school I attended there were many different incidents that I didn't think much of at the time but see differently now. At least one classmate or another had made comments that nobody liked me or something else that would hurt my feelings or insult my intelligence. I did not know that they were insecure themselves and just wanted to make me feel that way. The best school I attended when I was younger was Acacia Academy. I started in eighth grade and went there till I graduated from high school. Some students were problems but everyone else, especially the teachers, had been nice, friendly and understanding towards me.

I often still get big insults to my intelligence and that can really bother me considering all of the things that Ive tried to learn. I love to pursue my interests and share the things that are important to me with other people. I want other people to know what I am thinking about. My interests, (some people say obsessions) can change day to day. I sometimes have rituals or fixations and can still get a little rigid every now and then. When I was younger I didn't even know anything about Asperger's and just thought that I was a spoiled child with lots of problems. I didn't always know myself like I do now. I never thought I would have made it as far as I have today. So many problems are in the past and I never want to go back there ever again. Just a few years ago I relied on my parents for too many things. I couldn't even do simple things on my own like shaving and fixing meals, etc. Back then I never thought I could do any of those things but now I have gone farther than ever. I am currently enrolled in the P.A.C.E. Transition Program. The people at P.A.C.E. help me live independently and I have been told that I doing well.

I love my independence and cannot believe how happy I feel. I was very freaked out and reluctant about moving out of my parent's house and I thought it was the end of my good life. I was very unhappy and depressed and felt hopeless. Little did I know things would change so much. My life is full of positive events and it keeps getting better all of the time. I feel I have many good things to look forward to and cannot believe that I am the same person who I was back in those awful adolescent days when I thought that I could not live. That was hard for not only me but for my entire family whom I had a big effect on. I went through a big depression period as an adolescent and was very worried and paranoid about every little thing, but not any more. I hope things stay the way they are. I see myself now as the luckiest man around, and I was once the absolute opposite of how I am now.

Nobody's life is perfect in every way. Everybody's life is perfect in some way. I want to enjoy life while I can and always focus on the good and the progress.