As the early morning sun pours through the windows, Amelia sits comfortably at her kitchen table, a gentle smile playing at the corners of her mouth. The aroma of freshly baked pie lingers in the air—a signature of her warmth and hospitality. She seems both amused and reflective as she recounts the journey that led her to a life-changing diagnosis.
“I’ve always been told I take things very literally, and that has caused issues at previous jobs. There was one time that I was instructed to dust the blinds. The home’s owner, my employer, meant for me to use a duster to dust each blind individually. While I was cleaning the bathroom, I noticed the setting powder. They hadn’t given me any powder specifically for the blinds, so I assumed this was what I was meant to use. Thank goodness they were impressed with my key lime pie and decided to hire me again!
Then there was the incident when I was working for another family, when they asked me to put the lights out. I did ponder this task longer than I had the blind dusting. In this case, the client left a list, and it was written in a way that I could tell whether they meant to pull the lights out or put the lights out. They were attending a family event, and I didn’t want to intrude. From my vantage point, many of the light bulbs seemed on the verge of going out, so I decided to unscrew all of them. Imagine my surprise when they had only wanted me to turn off the lights before I left! Thinking I might have misunderstood an item on their task list, I left an apple pie to smooth over any miscommunications.
It was one year ago when I was seeing my general practitioner, I was relaying one of my most recent communication mishaps, and he asked me if I had ever been tested for autism. I told him no, I had not. He referred me to a psychologist, and I underwent the testing. Imagine my surprise when I found out I’m autistic. My parents said they always knew I was different because I took instructions so literally as a child. Once, when they asked me to empty the silverware rack from the dishwasher, I happily dumped it onto the floor and smiled! Then there was the instance when I was asked to take a shower, and my father found me trying to lift the shower off the floor so I could haul it downstairs to my mother.
Now that I have this diagnosis, it’s been so helpful! My clients all get a complimentary baked good on the front end, just in case. I’ve actually gotten so famous from the books that were written about me that I’ve been able to start a cleaning service, hiring other autistic individuals, and now I understand why all the communication issues took place.
In true CBS Sunday Morning fashion, we ask Amelia how she sees her story unfolding from here. She gazes thoughtfully out the window, the late morning light glinting off a row of neatly stacked pie plates. “You know, I never expected any of this,” she says with a light laugh. “But I think if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that sometimes, the instructions life gives you might seem confusing at first—but if you keep at it, you find your own way through.”
When asked if there would be any other areas of business she would be looking to go into, she shared that she is currently working on a start-up that would be a consultant service for companies looking to make their communication materials easier to understand for those with autism. “ I’ve experienced the issues firsthand, so I know what to look out for”. Further details to follow at a later date.
Living on the Spectrum 
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