At the age of 17, doctors from the Cody Center for Autism at Stony Brook University diagnosed Erica Leung with Asperger’s Syndrome, now referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder. After years of being mislabeled with everything from learning disabled to ADHD, it was a relief for Leung’s parents to finally have an answer. For Leung, who is holding her autism awareness event this Saturday, it was the beginning of a life full of rewarding obstacles.
“In my life I have been able to accomplish great things despite the difficulties I have overcome,” said the Massapequa native. “Growing up, I knew that I was different from the rest of the world. I always seemed to be a step behind everyone else and never up to par.”
Leung said basic skills that came naturally to others were a foreign language for her, and that lack of coordination frequently made her the target of her peers’ cruel jokes and teachers’ snide remarks.
“In middle school I had a teacher that found it funny to make my life a living hell. Every day, he would obnoxiously shout out, ‘Your handwriting is boo,’ which caused all of my classmates to turn around and stare at me like I was a circus clown,” said Leung, who had to be bribed to leave her house by her mother. “Having an older sister who is not on the autism spectrum also made it abundantly clear that I was different and at times odd. I resented the fact that everything seemed to be handed over to her on a silver platter when I had to struggle.”
Leung admitted to hating her sister’s ability to “capture people’s attention and friendships” when no one gave her the time of day. It wasn’t until Leung went away to school and started working a full-time job that she was able to form friendships.
“Although I am still behind most people my age, I have come a very long way in a short time,” said Leung, who received hours and hours of intensive speech therapy for semantics and pragmatics as well as acting lessons and skills to improve her motor coordination. “It is definitely not a walk in the park being autistic. I am thrown more curveballs and roadblocks than most people see in their lifetime as relationships, social cues and many stimuli can be hard for me. My life may be far more complicated, but I would not want to trade it.”
With every moment of frustration or hardship, Leung remembers that she did not choose to be autistic, but said it’s a choice God made for her.
“Every obstacle turned me into the strong person I am today and that is something no one can take away from me,” she said. “As I continue to learn and grow, I’ve made it a priority to write about my experiences and try to change the world by doing so,” she added of blogging on her website at www.autisticfemale.com, as well as her monthly column for www.familyaffaires.com.
Looking for a way to help others like herself, Leung came up with “Spirits for the Spectrum,” a fundraiser that brings together people from all over the community to celebrate life with good food and drinks all while spreading awareness for autism.
“Last year’s event was a huge success. We raised over $1,500 and with corporate matching $3,000 for the Autism Speaks Long Island Chapter,” said Leung, who hopes to raise the bar at her second event on June 6 at Ziggy’s Corner Pub, 1 Central Ave., Massapequa from 2 to 5 p.m. “I hope everyone who attends is able to see that autism is not as devastating a life as explained by the science and medical fields. Someone with autism can be just as successful as the next person.”
Since 2012, each October, Leung gathers her family and friends under the team name “Team Re” to do the Autism Speaks Long Island Walk at Jones Beach.
“We tailgate in the parking lot of Field 5 where I provide every Team Re walker with gift bags containing a team shirt and other items,” said Leung. “After the walk, I invite everyone back to my house for a catered lunch to celebrate our accomplishment. This past year, Team Re raised $2,000 and our total donations for 2014 was $5,000 to the Autism Speaks Long Island Chapter.”
Leung is both grateful and amazed by the attention that autism has received since she was diagnosed.
“Now that autism is more globally known thanks to organizations such as Autism Speaks, I’m always amazed at how many people know someone with the disorder and that they genuinely want to do what they can to spread awareness and learn how to make life easier and more meaningful for that person they love,” she said.
Through her own personal experiences, Leung is always able to give one piece of advice: never write off someone on the autism spectrum.
“The mind of someone with autism absorbs large amounts of knowledge and skill,” she said. “It may take longer, but with the right methods, gains can be made.”
