Maggie giving a presentation
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Maggie Maclean (Student):
I’m diagnosed with PDDNOS, which is high functioning autism.
I went through schooling with a little bit of resource room and a lot of inclusion. When my parents were told I wouldn’t be able to walk or talk I put it as my mission just to prove those doctors wrong.
My mom and my dad and my brother were really great help. They motivate me. They helped me with my work. They encouraged me to do things and they loved me for who I was.
I graduated in June of 2000. I went to West Virginia Wesleyan College for five years. That’s in Buckhannon, West Virginia, graduated with a BA in Christian Education, then I spent a year in missions through the Presbyterian church, and then finally I wound up in a college intern program which is a program for young adults with high functioning autism slash aspersers to learn how to live independently and I’ve been in CIT for now a year and a half.
I have recently passed my CCA exam, Certified Coding Associate. That’s for medical coding. Now I am looking for a job and hoping to get a job in the medical coding field. I have good memory skills, which is useful for medical coding, and I’m good with data entry. And I am very detail oriented.
I remember in the middle thinking: “I am going to fail, I am not going to succeed,” And then I told myself if you think that way you’re going to fail. So I started thinking to myself: “I’m going to pass. I’m going to pass.” And I passed. And I’m going to go out to eat with the people who helped me in the program: the academic coordinator, my tutor, the program director, and other people.
Just persevere. Because if you give up you’re not going to get what you want. You are better than what people say and just try and try and try.