Tessa Hall

This May, I’m walking 7,000 steps a day to raise $1,000 for autism and mental health - two things that are deeply personal to me.

I’m autistic. I wasn’t diagnosed until 2023, after years of trying to figure out why life felt so overwhelming when others seemed to cope with ease.

Before that, I thought I was just weak or broken. I couldn’t understand why everything felt so intense and draining - why I needed more time, more space, more recovery than everyone else. Getting my diagnosis gave me clarity, language, and permission to stop blaming myself. It marked the beginning of my healing.

But alongside that clarity came grief, anger, and resentment. I began to realise that so much of my anxiety and trauma stemmed from trying to survive in a world that wasn’t designed for people like me. I wasn’t weak or a failure - my strengths had been overlooked, and my successes diminished for needing “accommodations”. I saw how people had taken advantage of me, misunderstood me, or hurt me because of the very traits that make me unique.

And the hardest part? Knowing all of this doesn’t necessarily change how the world treats me.

It’s no wonder that around 70% of autistic people experience mental health challenges, and that we’re up to nine times more likely to die by suicide. That’s not because we’re autistic - it’s because we live in systems that weren’t built for us.

That’s why I’m doing the Walk for Autism again this year. To raise awareness. To share my story. And to help create a world where neurodivergent people are seen, supported, and genuinely celebrated.

If you’re able to donate, share, or just cheer me on - thank you. Every step brings me closer to my $1,000 goal, and every dollar helps create real, lasting change. 

Thanks for walking with me.