Loren is an eighteen-year-old late-diagnosed autistic girl who is passionate about expressing her authentic self and encourages others in the neurodivergent community to do the same.
She aspires to help change the world to make it a little easier for the new generation of autistic children, doing so through her special interests of writing, acting and art.
She believes that self-compassion is one of the most important things in creating disability pride, especially in a world that still carries so much stigma and ableism; giving yourself understanding and love makes it harder for others to leave you feeling shameful.
About my poem and collage
I grew up believing I was broken because of my differences, that was before my autism diagnosis at sixteen. Now, I’m reconnecting with my hurt inner child and giving her the understanding and love that she always deserved.
Click here to view Loren Sumner’s poem and collage (PDF)
