The Lost Generation: What It’s Like to Find Out You Have Autism Later in Life

April is Autism Acceptance Month, and our team put out a call for stories about living with the disorder. We were surprised by the number of submissions we received from people from the “Lost Generation” demographic – a term coined by researchers to describe individuals who are diagnosed as adults and therefore often miss out on critical care in their formative years.

We heard from so many “Lost Generation” writers, in fact, that we decided to dedicate a week to bringing their stories to light.

For some of our contributors, a late-in-life diagnosis proves empowering. It provides access to treatment and tools and a framework for understanding new experiences. For others, it offers a grieving point to reflect on what could have been different in their early life and relationships had they gotten the support they needed.