Navigating Loneliness and Self-Acceptance

**Living Between Understanding and Loneliness**

Since gaining consciousness, Kaelynn Partlow has felt disconnected—spending more time analyzing human interactions than experiencing them. As an author, autism advocate, and content creator, she channels her thoughts into her work, finding solace in the movement of fidget toys and the rhythm of words.

Growing up, Kaelynn struggled with self-perception, feeling "stupid" after failing third grade. A string of diagnoses—autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more—gave her new labels to hold onto, but they didn’t erase the weight of being misunderstood. Conversations often felt like puzzles where others simply stopped engaging instead of saying, "I don’t understand."

Loneliness lingers, especially on nights, weekends, and holidays, when she is no longer needed in a professional capacity. She retreats into her closet—a quiet space filled only with her thoughts—writing until the emotions drain away. And yet, within the struggle, she has discovered resilience. At Project Hope, she was given tasks she could succeed at, reshaping the belief that she couldn’t achieve.

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Her defining moment of celebration? A Netflix feature that brought together coworkers, friends, and acquaintances in a room full of support. She embraced fear, realizing she thrives under pressure. Now, she sees public speaking not as an impossible challenge, but as something she can not only endure—but master.

Kaelynn Partlow shares her story about life with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, and how finding the right diagnosis helped her embrace her neurodivergent identity.

Kaelynn Partlow, an author, autism advocate, and registered behavior technician, shares her own experiences living with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. She talks about how these diagnoses shifted her self-perception from feeling "stupid" to understanding her unique challenges and strengths.Kaelynn opens up about the misunderstandings neurodivergent people face and the difficulty of connecting in a world that often doesn't accommodate different ways of thinking. She also shares her fears—like wondering if her social difficulties will ever improve—and how she copes with loneliness, especially when not focused on work.Through it all, Kaelynn emphasizes the value of recognizing your own strengths, even when it’s hard. By taking on challenges and thriving under pressure, she found new opportunities, from public speaking to creative writing. Her story shows that growth often comes from facing fears and redefining success on your own terms.

About Kaelynn Partlow: In 2015, Kaelynn Partlow joined Project Hope Foundation as a Registered Behavior Technician. She is now a Lead Technician, providing services to middle and high-school-aged clients and contributing to staff training development.In 2021, Kaelynn was featured on the Netflix series Love On The Spectrum. She has also been a guest on numerous national podcasts and has published several articles, offering insights from an autistic perspective.With a large following on various social media platforms, Kaelynn uses her reach for autism advocacy, connecting with millions globally. In addition to her online work and role at Project Hope, she is an international public speaker, passionate about sharing tangible strategies for best practices when interacting with individuals on the autism spectrm

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