Elissa Denton

I’m walking 7k steps a day this May to support Autistic Australians

I’m taking part in Walk for Autism this May, walking 7,000 steps a day to fundraise for Aspect Autism Spectrum Australia - and I’d really love your support if you’re in a position to give 🤍

This feels deeply personal for me. I’m a late-diagnosed autistic woman, and for most of my life I’ve been masking - adapting, mirroring, and quietly trying to fit into spaces that weren’t always built with people like me in mind.

Because the world isn’t yet fully autism-friendly, 70% of Autistic people in Australia experience mental health challenges. That statistic sits heavily with me, because it reflects the very real impact of not being seen, understood, or supported early enough.

Depending on where you know me from, or in what setting(s) we have spent most of our time together, you might be surprised to hear this. Autism doesn’t always look the way people expect - especially in women - and that’s part of why diagnosis and understanding can come so late.

I often think about how to explain the feeling of living like that, and Mirrorball by Taylor Swift captures it in a way that resonates: “I’m a mirrorball, I can change everything about me to fit in.”

Constant shaping, reflecting, and adapting just to belong was the reality of almost 32 years for me - until a special human took the time to properly question why we never seemed to line up in terms of communication and understanding. That moment changed everything. It led to a formal diagnosis, and it’s been the beginning of me slowly learning who I am, without feeling like I must always be a mirrorball.

Your donation can support life-changing initiatives like access to earlier diagnosis, so autistic people can grow up with understanding, validation, and the right support from the beginning.

Thank you so much for reading, supporting, sharing, or donating 🤍

My Walk Stats

Steps

279,941

My Goal

217,000

Facebook Donation

$455

Thank you so much to my biggest supporter, Facebook Donation, for donating a trailblazing $455 to help create a more autism-friendly world.

Thank you for your brilliant donation

Facebook Donation

$455

Elissa Denton

$130.82

George Gibson

$106.12

Facebook Donation

$101.42

Tara Schmitt

$54.84

You go girl!

Genevieve Turner-chiasson

$53.64

Go girl. Love this. Love you 💜

Bell

$30

Molly Mccormack

$28.43

Love you ❤️

Facebook Donation

$28.33

Rochelle Casey

$11.80

Thank you sharing such a personal story x