Our Adult Program and Student Poem: A Place for Me

People ask about our Adult Program and our best answer is "it depends" because the program is not ours. It belongs to the participants. They make it what they want and need and we do our best to support that. It has and will constantly evolve depending on the people in it. A student composed this poem for their own needs, but granted us permission to share since it matches our motivation for starting our program.

A Place for Me

My dream of a place to be:

a place where I am not masking.

I am able to be myself

without upsetting others.

Because I do care.

I care and I am aware.

Then I feel ashamed.

I should be able to please.

I have learned what is expected,

I rehearse interactions,

I correct and control my nature,

I try to be what is wanted.

But the vigilance exhausts

and I am overwhelmed.

I make a mistake.

The looks cut through

and shame boils over.

Dysregulation explodes.

Control is lost,

a runaway train.

The comments fuel it further.

Of course I know, I am aware.

It isn't a choice, disregard,

or lack of consideration.

I wish I was oblivious

so it could dissipate,

the train quickly decelerating.

I could just be me without trying

to be what is expected as if

I am neurotypical.

The ease and normalcy

that is foreign and work,

I wish you could see.

I wish I had a place

that was easy for me.

By Sarah Dorros, 26

Where are you able to be yourself? What would your dream place be?